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3D. JAMES’ STANDARD SPORTING SERIES, No. 8. 







































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































THE 



A COMPENDIUM OF INFORMATION 

OK 

ROWING, SCULLING, STEERING, 

FEATHERING, COACHING, SLIDING-SEATS, 

TRIMMING AND SITTING A BOAT, DIMENSIONS OF WORK, 

ANALYSIS OF FAULTS, 

TOGETHER WITH THE 

PRINCIPAL SCULLLNG MATCHES AND CHAMPIONSHIP CONTESTS TO DATE 


IN BOTH IIEMISP1IERES ; 

PORTRAITS OP THE MOST NOTED OARSMEN OP THE WORLD; 

RULES OF BOATING, PROFESSIONAL and AMATEUR, Etc. 


COMPILED BY 


Ed. JAMES, 


AUTHOR OF “ PRACTICAL TRAINING,” ‘‘ HEALTH, STRENGTH AND MUSCLE,’ 
“MANUAL OF SPORTING RULES,” “BOXING AND WRESTLING,” 
“INDIAN CLUB AND DUMB-BELL EXERCISE,” “THE GAME 
COCK,” “ TERRIER DOGS,” ETC., ETC. 



ST2-. 2- J 




40 




NEW YOKE: 

PUBLISHED BY ED. JAMES, 88 AND 90 CENTRE STREET, 

NEW YORK CLIPPER BUILDING. 

1878. 

Price Fifty Cents. 


3 1 


U-l 



G<V 75/. 

. Jzs' 


Third Edition . 


o 


' f Entered according to act of Comrress, in the year 1878 
BY ED. JAMES. 

Inthe office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington^ 


Copyrighted at Stationers’ Hall, London, England. 


t 



VAN FLEET, Printer, 

88 and 90 Centre street. New York. 





1 


PREFACE. 


The publication of the present volume is due to a settled conviction 
upon our part that there existed a necessity for a permanent work 
on the subject of Rowing, at a reasonable cost, and obtainable at all 
times. It is by no means the first nor the only treatise of this 
nature in book form, nor is it likely to be the last. “Annuals,” 
unless backed up with sufficient paying advertisements to cover the 
expense of getting up, have gone from our gaze, leaving the work 
begun unfinished, and, consequently, a void which needed filling. 
We, therefore, have undertaken to meet this want by a compilation 
of the best theories from the best authorities, interspersing the 
reading matter with portraits from life photographs of the most 
* noted oarsmen of the present century, many of which appear now for 
the first time. This was an expense no one cared to incur heretofore, 
no matter how enthusiastic otherwise, and we believe our having 
done so will be universally appreciated, and, in due course, 
remunerated. 



CONTENTS. 


Introduction.Page 5 

First Principles of liowing ... 6 

The Beach. 10 

Feathering. 12 

•Use of the Legs. 14 

Becovery. 15 

Catching the Water. 18 

“ Form ” and Swing.19 

Faulty Finish. 20 

Wrong Grasp.'21 

Overreach. 22 

Meeting Oar and Bowing Deep 23 

Screwing.. 24 

Feathering Udder Water.25 

Uneven Swing. 26 

Not Bowing Stroke Homo .... 27 
Crooked Swing. 28 


Fouling the Water.Page 28 

Watermanship. 29 

Bent Arms and Want of Catch. 29 
Advantages of Sliding Seats .. 30 

The Art of Sculling. 35 

Fours Without Coxswains .... 43 

Steering Apparatus. 44 

Dimensions of Work. 45 

English Boating Buies. 47 

Definition of an Amateur Oars¬ 
man. 48 

American College Buies ...... 49 

Sculling Matches m United 
States and British Provinces 50 
Boston Begatta Winners ...... 56 

Sculling Matches in England 
and Australia. 56 


IILUSTRATIOJTS. 


James Benforth (Frontispiece 1 ). 
Edward A. Trickett. 
Joshua Ward. 

James IIamill. 

Harry Kelley. 

Walter Brown. 

Henry Coulter. 

George Brown. 

William Scharfe. 

Evan Morris. 

Chas. E. Courtney. 
Edward A. Hanlan. 

Fred. A. Plaisted. 

John Biglin. 

Ellis Ward. 


Wm. FI. Decker. 
Wallace Boss. 
Warren Smith. 
John Higgins. 
Dennis Leary. 
Joseph Kaye. 
Joseph II. Sadler. 
Bernard Biglin. 
Gilbert Ward. 
Bobert Chambers. 
Bobert Fulton. 
James Taylor. 
Thomas Winship. 
Elijah Boss. 
George Price. 


































EDWARD TRICKETT. 

From a Photograph taken in Sydney, Australia. 













JOSH WAKD. 

From a Photograph by O’Neil, New York. 


I 












THE 


MODERN OARSMAN. 


INTRODUCTION. 


"We believe boat-rowing extended back and was identical 
with the time of the first sailing craft; no matter of what 
description. F'shermen have always existed, and it is pretty 
certain they did not depend on the sails alone in following 
their calling. The Africans, Indians, and other untutored 
savages have always been skillful boating men in their 
way, that is, propelling their canoes by means of one oar, 
and paddling or sculling from the stern of the boat, not as 
in modern sculling by means of a pair of sculls. 

The ancients conducted their maritime wars principally 
by means of gigantic row-boats, manned by brawny ath¬ 
letes. Later on, when civilization introduced “men-of- 
war” ships, the boarding and capturing of an enemy’s 
Vessel -was done by their crews rowing in open boats, ex¬ 
posed to the cannon’s fire, and going into the very jaw3 of 
death. From these facts, nothing was more natural than 
that, in times of peace, the marines and sailors should 
practice rowing very extensively, both for recreation and 
usefulness. 

In Cleopatra’s time (B. C. 50), while men were not as 
proficient in rowing as our oarsmen are at the present 
time, there has certainly never occurred such a magnifi¬ 
cent curn out as the one of that celebrated woman. The 
deck of Cleopatra’s barge was adorned with gold, and its 
sails were purple. The oars, of which -there were about 
twenty, were set w r i.h silver, and the rowers kept time to 
the sound of flutes and lyres. The figure-head of the barge 
represented a dragon’s head and' was most elaborately 
carved. The masts, of which there were two, were sur- 




6 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


mounted by golden crowns, and the entire) craft was con¬ 
structed and adorned in a style surpassing description. 

It was a move in the right direction when the two great 
English Universities Oxford and Cambridge, in June, 1829, 
introduced their annual boating contests, which was fol¬ 
lowed twenty-three years later by Harvard and Yale; for 
at the present time nearly every University in the world, 
accessible to rivers and lakes, has its boats and its boat- 
crews, thus giving to rowing a prestige no other athletic 
sport ever enjoyed. 

In our. effort to make rowing (which accomplishment 
both sexes can acquire) more popular, and still better un¬ 
derstood in all its details, we would state that, without 
practice on the water, no one can ever expect to become an 
oarsman by simply reading one or all the text books— 
therefore, let each avail himself of putting into practice 
the principles laid down in theory, and success will surely 
follow. 


FIRST PRINCIPLES OF ROWING. 

A gig, slightly outrigged (says W. B. Woodgate, author of 
“Oars and Sculls”), is the best in which to teach an utter 
tyro, unless one be found with considerably more beam 
than the ordinary length of an oar in-board. Ordinary 
in-rigged gigs have but little to spare between the thowl 
and the handle of an oar when laid in the rowlock, and a be¬ 
ginner, who is at all awkward with his elbows, or draws his 
button away from the rowlock in recovering (a most prob¬ 
able fault), stands in jeopardy of a knock on the funny-bone 
or knuckles against the opposite thowl-pin, which fidgets 
him nearly as much as a touch of the splinter-bar upon the 
hocks would a colt in harness. The oar should be carefully 
examined. It cannot be too good or too “true,” i.e., lying 
square in the rowlock. A good oarsman will adapt a bad 
oar to circumstances, and still make it go true. A tyro 
adapts circumstances to his oar, and moulds his earliest 
style thereby. The oar should neither be weak, or it will 
go deep, nor hog-backed (as builders often turn them out 
for sake of stiffness), else it will fly out of water till the 
strain has straightened it; and, lastly, the loom should 
be true and square, which is often not the case, and oars¬ 
men puzzle to know why they row deep with such an oar. 




THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


7 


The rowlock also should be examined. In most hack gigs 
the width between thowl and stopper is not sufficient, and. 
the oar “locks” to a full reach forward. Also, if the row- 
lock has been used much, the upper part of the thowl, in¬ 
stead of being flush and “proud” (i. e., raking slightly 
forward), will often have a groove in it, transverse to the 
perpendicular of the thowl, especially where it has been 
used by one who feathers at all under water. Into this 
groove the upper angle of the loom of the oar lapses, and 
the blade slopes in the water and sinks deep. Any such 
groove should be filed away at the outset. Again, a weak 
iron often gets pulled out of shape, ihe sill of the rowlock 
sinks at the thowl end, the loom of the oar thus rows up¬ 
hill, and the blade sinks too deep; or the button gets worn, 
so that the outer flange of it no longer presses against the 
thowl after the first grip, but leaves it when the oar ap¬ 
proaches its right angle to the rowlock during the stroke. 

Stretchers are, as a rule, made too perpendicular; this 
alone, apart from the early difficulty of clearing the knees, 
teaches beginners, if left to judge for themselves, to set 
their stretchers too long, so that the heel may reach the 
board without cramping the flexor tendon of the foot that 
runs down the shin-bone. The addition of a piece of wood 
under the heels will remedy the fault of the builder. 

A beginner should learn with a rowlock one inch, or 
more so, higher, compared with level of seat and water, 
than would be his work in a racing-boat. When he has 
once learnt to clear his knees, and avoid crabs, it will be 
time to lower his work. At the same time the rowlock 
should never be so high as to throw th.e strain almost en¬ 
tirely upon the arms, and to obviate use of the loins, as in 
a sea-boat. The stretcher-strap should hold both feet, and 
it is best if each foot is in a separate loop. A man who 
has rowed much should have developed sufficient strength 
of abdominal muscle to enable him to do ordinary gig 
rowing without a strap, and yet not to double over his oar 
or to hang in recovery. But till that muscle develops it is 
best to supply the strap at all times, lest the beginner 
should learn to meet his oar, or be unable to row the 
stroke out for want of power of recovery from beyond the 
perpendicular. If, however, it is seen that he tries to re¬ 
cover solely with the instep from the strap, and not also 
with the muscles of abdomen, loins and thighs, his strap 
may in such a case be taken away for a short time to 
compel him to use all muscles requisite for a good recovery. 


8 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


The strap should be tight enough to grasp the foot, instead 
of pinching it. 

The seat in the boat, i.e., the way in which to sit in a 
boat, requires careful inspection, and yet is one for which 
a definite rule cannot well be laid down. Some of the best 
oars sit almost on tiptail; some, per contra , sit at least 
three, if not four inches on the seat. Much depends upon 
the depth at which the hip is set up the body, along the 
flank, and consequently upon the play of the joint on the 
seat. A man must regulate his seat to some extent accord¬ 
ing to his make and shape; but, if a nominal depth of seat 
is to be laid down for a tyro, it may be three inches for a 
heavy weight to two and a half for a light weight. But in 
any case the oarsman should sit square, as if he were uncon¬ 
scious which side he was going to row. His oar-handle 
should overlap the outside of his chest about one inch (on 
a fixed seat). If he sits square, plants his feet square, and 
sets his hands square, he will have no excuse for not row¬ 
ing square. The heels should be together; the straps 
should allow of this, but the toes should slope outwards. 

More depends upon the grip of the oar than most are 
aware of. Half the faults in a crew may often be traced 
to a faulty grasp. Now, as the stroke is rowed through, 
the angle of inflection of the wrist gradually alters. At 
first the whole arm and wrist are extended in a straight 
line. When the arms begin to bend at shoulder and elbow, 
towards the latter part of the stroke, the wrist has to ac¬ 
commodate itself to the flexion of' the other joints, so that 
the knuckles and palm may constantly remain in the same 
plane, and with them the blade -of the oar at the same 
constant angle to *the surface of the water. To effect this, 
the wrist has to bend, not only perpendicularly, but also 
laterally; for the elbows, as they pass the ribs, are wider 
apart than when extended at the commencement of the 
stroke; and as the hands (^as will be seen presently) do not 
grasp the oar at a width apart equivalent to the width of 
the ribs, and have, moreover, to keep always flat to the 
handle of the oar, the angle of Which to the body is con¬ 
stantly changing, the angle of the wrist must vary also 
laterally as well as perpendicularly; that is, the palm of the 
hand must remain in a constant position, though the posi¬ 
tion of the arms is inconstant, and the wrist is responsible 
for the arrangement. 

If a man clenches his fist tight, and then tries to shake 
his hand from the wrist, he will find the latter joint cramp- 



THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


9 


ed instead of limp, as required for the operation. Again, 
if a man wishes to hang by his hands from a bar, he will 
do so from the two upper joints of his fingers, hardly bend¬ 
ing the lower knuckle joints at all. If he essay to clench 
the bar be will only cramp his grasp and weaken his pow¬ 
ers of suspension. These two points will show the folly of 
grasping the oar with the whole hand, and the impolicy of 
using, to a tyro, the too common expression “Grasp your 
oar firmly” as liable to misinterpretation. The hands 
should be placed upon the oar rather less than a hand’s 
breadth apart—about three inches. Thus the two upper 
joints of the fingers should perform the grasp, the lower 
joints being left nearly straight. The hand should not 
hold the oar as if squeezing a sponge. Then the thumb 
should close and grip, but only so far as it can without 
compelling the lower joints of the other fingers to join in 
the grasp. The latter joints should bend only so far as to 
accommodate themselves to the roundness of the oar; 
hardly at all, in fact. The grasp thus attained is quite 
strong enough for all rowing purposes. The lower part of 
the palm of the hand and the ball of the thumb should not 
touch the oar at all. The hands will thus be in that posi¬ 
tion which gives freest play to the wrist of any grasp, and 
also in that in which a man, if intending to hang his whole 
weight upon a bar, such as the handle of his oar, would in¬ 
stinctively adopt. 

The absence of cramp in the grasp and the free play to 
the wrist thus attained will facilitate the action of the 
feather, and will, by enabling the oarsman to accommodate 
his wrist without'cramp or hindrance to the variations of 
angle of the other joints of the arm, and of the oar handle, 
keep him clear of much of that want of command of oar 
and of rowing deep which is the bugbear of beginners, and 
which is to a great extent to be traced to the erroneous 
manner in which they are taught to “grasp” their oars. 

It is true that some men prefer to hold the thumb of the 
outside hand over the oar, instead of underneath it, but 
there ought to be no choice in the matter ; both thumbs 
should be underneath (in rowing). Both hands, both 
arms, both shoulders, each loin, both legs and feet should 
bear an equal strain throughout the stroke. The physical 
exertion of each side of the body, and of the members be¬ 
longing to it, should be equal while rowing the stroke 
through. But though the physical strain is equal to both 
hands, it is true that the mechanical power of that hand 


10 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


which is farthest from the fulcrum is the greater of the 
two. In that sense the outside hand does most work, in 
that its work, though equal to that of the others, is expend¬ 
ed to greater advantage. The oarsman should sit square. 
His shoulders should be set well back and stiffened. Any 
attempt to stretch them as he reaches out, and so to add 
to his reach, loses more than it gains. When an oarsman 
is told to reach out “ square,” it after all comes to reaching 
as square as he can, and that is all. The best form that 
ever rowed always “gave” a little, however little, to the 
side on which he rowed. From a front view his shoulders 
would look square enough, but from behind it would be 
seen that the two shoulders were not quite in the same 
position, for the arm of the one is stretched away from, 
and the other across the body, to follow the arc of the oar- 
handle at the commencement of the reach. But this con¬ 
cession, that absolute sculptural squareness is not to be 
looked for in the reach forward, must not be taken as any 
excuse for bending one shoulder or rowing across the boat 
—too common a fault with many good oars. 

Cushions are now almost obsolete, and even those who 
once swore by a new wash-leather cushion to row upon, do 
not now lament the abolition. True, the seat is harder, 
but though, till the bones get accustomed to it, that is 
rather uncomfortable, the “raws” that used to be the bug¬ 
bear of so many practical oars when rowing in a rolling 
boat are now seldom complained of. Moreover, by sitting 
lower without cushions the tyro is enabled to row with a 
lower rowlock, and to lower also his centre of gravity, and 
therewith to reduce the propensity to roll. A wet cushion 
would draw and rub raw even a man who, on a dry one, 
never encountered a “raw.” 


THE BEACH. 

The usual manner in which a beginner is taught to row is 
by setting an experienced oarsman in front of him, and 
telling him to copy his action, admonishing at the same 
time each error as exhibited by the beginner in his at¬ 
tempts to copy his model. A man who has never rowed 
has been accustomed to use his arms, and arms only, for 
all purposes of moving or controlling heavy weights, and 
accordingly the first instinct of the beginner in rowing is 



JAMES HAMtLXi. 



















































































































HAKRY KELLEY. 

Erom a Photograph taken in London, Eng. 














THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


1 


to attempt to move tlie oar with his arms. The use of his 
back, loins and legs with him is only secondary. The use 
of the arms in rowing is too natural not to come sooner or 
later, w T hen once called into play, and a tvro learns quickest 
how to make most use of those parts of his frame in which 
his greatest strength lies, if taught at first to move his oar 
without any action of the arms, simply from his back and 
loins. The man who finishes his stroke bv aid of the biceps 
infallibly dog-ears his elbows, and sticks them out at right 
angles to his ribs, giving a weak as well as a cramped and 
ugly finish. The stroke should be finished with the 
shoulders and the muscles that work them, and the biceps 
should be passive throughout the stroke. The best way to 
make a man use his shoulders instead of his biceps is to 
accustom him to feel a strain upon the former. Therefore, 
having got a beginner on his seat,-and having taught him 
how to hold his oar, let him be made to reach well forward, 
with the' boat at a dead pull—no “way” upon it—and then 
to row a stroke solely with body swinging and legs driving 
against the stretcher. The arms need not at first be bent 
at all, but kept out rigid, like taut ropes coupling the body 
to the oar. The heavier the boat is at this period the more 
w T ill the beginner appreciate the novel use of his legs and 
loins, from the resistance to them. An extra sitter in the 
boat is a gain in this respect. If the boat runs too light, 
and the oar comes too easily through the water, the pupil 
finds no resistance that his arms cannot easily overcome, 
and at once instinctively tries to do his work with them. 
Besides, by thus keeping the arms rigid, the oar is sure, if 
truly held at first, to remain square in the rowlock, so that 
there is no rowing deep, a fault that is sure to result if the 
arms are at once called into play before the wrist has learnt 
to accommodate itseli to the variation of angle referred to 
elsewhere. After a few minutes’ body work of this sort 
the finish of the stroke with the shoulders may be explain¬ 
ed, and copied by the pupil from the model in front of him. 
But from day to day, as the lesson commences, a few body 
strokes, with rigid arms, should be rowed to start with, 
to recall the use of the loins, till the pupil has learnt 
thoroughly to depend upon that part for the strain of 
the stroke. 




±2 Till: MODERN OARSMAN. 

THE FINISH. 

The finish should always be taught separately. Let 
the pupil be shown the proper action, and made, to copy 
it without an oar in his hands; by setting his arms 
out straight in front of him, knuckles uppermost, then 
swinging them into his chest by use of the shoulder mus¬ 
cles, bending the elbow-joint as the arms come in, so as to 
keep the hands in the sam*e plane, till the root of the thumb 
strikes the chest. Having copied the action properly for a 
few times, let him sit upright on his seat, repeat the same 
with the oar. in his hand, and not passing through the 
water at first. Subsequently let him row the finish only, 
of a stroke in the water, without feathering, but dropping 
his hands after the chest is touched. When he has done 
this cleanly, let the two parts of the stroke be put together. 


FEATHERING. 

The feather, like the finish, is quickest and best taught 
by commencing without an oar in the hand, studying 
ing the action only at first; that is, it is by this means 
most speedily acquired in a clean aud perfect shape. If 
taught all at once faults may creep in from misapprecia- 
tion of the manipulation, which may take days or even 
months to eradicate. The thumb at its base should be the 
part of the hand which strikes the chest at the conclusion 
of the stroke, knuckles being uppermost; the stroke thus 
is rowed in the w r ater to the last. Then the hands should 
drop sharply about two inches % and a half, the base of the 
thumb still touching the chest, and then, when by this means 
the oar has been raised edgeways like a knife out of the 
water, the turn of the wrist should take place. A few 
minutes’ practice of the action, slowly, with a stick held in 
the hand instead of an oar, at first, will explain and define 
the action. Then the three motions—the touch on the 
chest, the drop, and the turn—can be accelerated in their 
sequence till they approach the style of an ordinary feather. 

% Then the same should be repeated with the oar in the 
hands, only just rowing the last foot of the stroke, till the 
motion becomes handy. Too much attention cannot be 
paid to a neat and clean feather, the oar coming out of the 




THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


13 


water edgeways, and hands dropped before they are turned. 
If the hands are turned before dropped, the oar is turned 
in the water, and when the hands drop it is pushed up 
flatways through the water. The resistance of the ele¬ 
ment causes a strain upon the sill of the rowlock, and 
tends to drag the boat down on that side. Half the faults 
in rowing maybe traced to a feather under water; the 
boat, if a light one, is made to roll thereby, and the form 
in turn is cramped by unsteadiness. Again, the car does 
not come off the chest so freely when encountering resist¬ 
ance in the water by being brought out flatways, so that 
recovery is hampered instead of being elastic. Then, if a 
man thus hangs at the chest, he wastes time, and has to 
rash forward in his swing to make up his lost ground. 
This spoils his swing, and taxes his endurance by the extra 
exertion of the “bucket” forward, and probably throws 
him out of time into the bargain. Last of all, the resist¬ 
ance of the oar against the water, when forced out flat in¬ 
stead of edgeways, more or less backs wafer, and stops the 
way of the boat. In the same way that a few distinct 
“body” strokes should during early lessons commence the 
day’s practice, so also should a minute or two of practice 
of the action of the feather without rowing, to recall the 
knack before settling down to work. If the knuckles touch 
the chest before the drop, one of two faults must have 
happened. E ther the. oar at the moment the knuckles 
reach the chest is in the water, or is out of it; if in the 
water, then the action of touching the chest with the 
-knuckles has turned it in the water, it is feathered 
under water; or if the oar is not in the water, the 
hands have been lowered from their original plane be¬ 
fore the oar reached the chest, so as to elevate the oar 
from the water; in that case the last part of the stroke, 
more or less, has been rowed in the air, not in the water, 
and thus every inch of water is not made use of; and if the 
oar is thus out of the water already, a further drop is 
superfluous. The test of a clean feather is the touch of the 
root, of the thumb against the chest; this insures that at 
least the oar has remained square to the end of the stroke; 
and if the hands preserve the same plane till after the 
chest has been thus touched, the oar will remain not only 
square, but in the water to the last, and therefore doing 
work. The drop instantaneously elevates it from the 
water, and the turn which follows completes the feather. 
When the bands work the motion quickly the eye will not 





14 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


detect, by merely watching the hands, any transposition 
or amalgamation of the motion, but a glance at the oar 
will answer the question. 1. If the oar is feathered per¬ 

fectly it comes cut like a knife, leaving a small swirl where 
it has made its exit. 2. If a sort of feathery sheet of water 
runs off the blade as it leaves the water, it is feathered 
under water, the hands have turned while the oar is still 
in the water, and the oar, coming up spoonways, empties 
its contents as it reaches the surface. 3. If the oar throws 
a slop of water aft as it leaves the water, the stroke is fin¬ 
ished in the air, and a gradual drop of the hands has 
taken place before the hands reach the chest. That drop 
has come too soon, the hands have not preserved their 
plane. 


USE OF THE LEGS. 

Nothing is more invidious than to tell a beginner, before 
he learns anything about a stroke, to “kick against his 
stretcher.” If he does so, he is sure to kick too soon, and 
simply to push himself back on his seat before he has got 
his oar in the water. The legs instinctively stiffen them¬ 
selves against the stretcher the instant that the body feels 
the strain of the oar. They should be kept in this rigid 
posture, supporting the body throughout the stroke. This 
rigidity should commence at the instant the oar touches 
the water, and the strain begins to fall upon the shoulders; 
not sooner, or the seat is shifted; not later, or the tension 
of the body slackens for want of support; a passive resist¬ 
ance, co-extensive with the strain upon the body, and de¬ 
pending upon it, commencing and ending simultaneously 
with it; not a gratuitously aggressive movement, inde¬ 
pendent of the body. The old and time-honored formula 
of lifting oneself off the seat with simultaneous use of oar 
and stretcher, is the best and simplest explanation to a 
beginner. The lift of the body can only be obtained by 
simultaneous use of the handle of the oar and of the 
stretcher; neither strain can in such a case be put on one 
instant before the other, or there would be no lift. At the 
same time it must be explained that the legs, while thus 
supporting the body, do so passively—rigidly—not with 
any extension of the legs (on a fixed seat). The more 
simultaneous the rigidity of the legs to the strain on the 
body, the greater the power of the stroke. A faulty use of 





THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


15 


legs consists of—(1) Not sufficient pressure of the feet, or 
(2) if pressure, not contemporaneous with swing; (3) if 
pressure and contemporaneous, still not with rigid joints. 
But though the legs are thus rigid in their action, i. e., do 
their best to keep rigid, the knees “play” up and down a 
little, and their increase or diminution of flexion to a small 
extent, and in a certain manner, is no sign of an improper 
or unrig-id use of the legs. It is simply due to the reason 
that every man, even on a fixed seat in the boat, rows 
more or less on a (internal) sliding seat; that the bones 
of the thigh move fore and aft- slightly, with each swing of 
the body, through them covering of flesh, and the motion 
of the knees is only the result of the instinctive accommoda¬ 
tion of the muscles to this slight movement of the basis of 
operations, while they maintain meantime the rigid, pres¬ 
sure or prop of the feet against the stretcher to support 
the action of the body. While thus acquiring the proper 
action of the legs—at the right instant' of time—the pupil’s 
stretcher should be set about an inch longer than would 
be used by a more experienced oarsman of the same size, 
on the same principle that his rowlock, as explained pre¬ 
viously, should be a trifle higher, so as to avoid all fouling 
of the knees, till he has acquired some command of re¬ 
covery and watermanship. When he has attained that, 
his work and stretcher will be reduced to the ordinary 
lengths at which a practical oar can make most mechan cal 
use of his physical strength. 


RECOVERY. 

When one stroke has been properly rowed out, the next 
step is to get forward into the position in which to row 
another. Much of the value of subsequent strokes de¬ 
pends upon the manner in which the recovery after the 
stroke is effected. It must be borne in mind that the set 
of muscles weakest in proportion to the task required of 
them in rowing are those of the abdomen. In rowing a 
race they are the first to fail. It is harder to carry the 
body forward with them, with the oar feathered, against 
air, than to drive the body back with muscles of loins, 
etc., when the oar is square against the water. The result 
of such exhaustion is “rowing short,” which is owing, not 
to such weakness of the loins, etc., that the oarsman, if 






16 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


once forward, could not row the stroke through still, but 
to the failing powers of his abdominal muscles, which be¬ 
come unequal to the task of carrying him forward to repeat 
the stroke. * Bearing this in mind, it will be seen that 1 e- 
fore a man can be of use in a race he must not only develop 
by exercise those muscles of the abdomen which hitherto 
have never been thus called into play, but must also learn 
to economize them, and to use such strength as they pos¬ 
sess to the very best advantage. The first thing, herefore, 
that has to be learnt is to get the hands ofl the chest, and 
the arms extended in front of the body as rapidly as pos¬ 
sible. Not only does the action give an impetus to the 
swing of the body, facilitate its motion forward, and open 
the chest for respiration, but also the position with arms 
thus extended is th it in which a man with such ease 
pushes away any resisting object in front of him. Let this 
be shown practically to the pupil. If he wants to push 
away a man from in front of him with the weight of his 
body, but his arms intervening and being the means of 
contact between himself and the other man, he will find 
that he uses the weight of his body forward to better ad¬ 
vantage if he pushes with straight than if with bent arms. 
This will teach him the importance of doing as much as 
he can of the work of carrying his oar back for the nex]i 
stroke with straight arms. 

This action of shooting out the hands from the chest and 
of extending the arms should be rapid for the reasons 
above shown, but its rapidity should consist of elasticity, j 
and absence of loss of time at the chest, rather than in 
any hurried rush. The process of reversing the machinery , 
instantaneously, of quickly bringing into play muscles con- 1 
verse to those which have just rowed the oar home to the I 
chest, does not come naturally to a ayone, and with some be- ’ 
. ginners it is a matter Qf extreme difficulty. Yet it should 
be overcome, else when the oarsman progresses to a crew ! 
he will find himself out of swing with the rest, compelled i 
to rush at the last to make up for time lost in the early 
part of the recovery, throwing himself out of time and 
swing, and wasting his own strength by “bucketing.” For 
this reason, as in other instances, recovery of the hands is 
first made a separate piece of practice. When the manipu- * 
lation of the feather is mastered, let the practice of it be 
extended so as to include the shoot out of the hands from 
the chest after the hands have dropped and turned the 
oar. This will in time engender elasticity of recovery of 





WAITER BROWN 



















































































































































































































































































































































































HENRY COTJLTER. 

From a Photograph by Notman, Montreal, P. Q. 



GEORGE BROWN. 

From a Photograph by Notman, Halifax, N. S. 







THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


17 


the hands, which should come off the chest like a billiard- 
ball from a cushion, not necessarily with a rush, yet with¬ 
out a hang. However slow the stroke may be, the hands 
should no sooner have completed their feather than they 
should have bounded away. 

The body as well as the hands should be kept in per¬ 
petual motion, like a pendulum, always swinging. This 
should be carefully inculcated. The muscles of the legs, 
thighs and loins should all join with those of the abdomen 
in the recovery, though necessarily the greater strain falls 
upon the latter. The feet also should draw the body from 
the strap by which they are held; bub if the pupil tries to 
do the entire work of recovery from the feet, without using 
the loins and legs to aid, the strap should be taken away 
for a short time, and he should be taught to recover with¬ 
out it; at first simple recovery, swinging to and fro with¬ 
out rowing, and then a few lessons with the oar without a 
strap, till he has learnt to use the muscular power which 
he exacts. 

A slight hang of either body or hands must entail extra 
hurry sooner or later in the swing to make up the lost 
time. All this causes exkaustioD. No man rowing a mile 
race would slop dead every hundred yards, and then spurt 
to make up his lost ground. If a man hangs only onc- 
| tenth of a second at his chest at forty strokes a minute, he 
s ts still four seconds per minute. The main stress should 
be laid on the elasticity of the hands, for without them the 
body cannot recover, except at groat waste of power. A 
man who tries to push his oar forward with his body while 
his hands remain at his chest, infallibly doubles over his 
oar as he goes forward, his lungs are cramped, as well as 
his powers needlessly taxed. Also, inasmuch as even on a 
fixed seat the knees rise and fall a little with the swing, 
the quicker they are cleared before they reach their full 
altitude by a quick shoot out of the hands, the less chance 
' is there of fouling them, especially in rough water, and the 
! shorter need be the stretcher used; thus adding to the 
physical power. The first part of the recovery should be 
the most rapid. As the end of the reach is approached, 
the pace of the swing forward should slacken somewhat in 
proportion When the first part of the recovery is slow, 
and the last part, 'herefore, of necessity a rush, the result 
i is to dip the stern of the craft, especially of a light one. 
! On the other hand, the longer the weight of the body re- 
| mains back, after motive power with the oar has come to 




18 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


an end, tlie more is the “ way ” of a boat stopped, while, 
per contra , an elastic recovery facilitates it. 

As the stroke is about to be repeated the hands must be 
raised sharply, just as the body commences to throw itself 
back; thus no part of the stroke is wasted in the air, which 
is commonly called “ clipping” the stroke. If a pupil shows 
a disposition to clip, it is best at first to i„oint out for a 
mark some spot on the back of the man in front of him, at 
which he should aim his hands, instead of diving them 
down to the seat before him. But if this remedy fails, a 
rough and ready one can be resorted to in the shape of a 
rough piece of deal nailed on the top of his stretcher for a 
short time. He will keep his hands well up then to save 
his knuckles from being barked by the contact. 


CATCHING THE WATER 

In catching the water the beginning of the stroke should 
be the most forcible part, not only because the body is 
is then at its greatest physical advantage, but because a 
light boat, if touched gently before the greatest force is 
applied, slips away, and offers no satisfactory resistance 
to the principal strain when attempted to be enforced. 
This “catch” should be a “drive” from the body, set in 
motion by the action previously alluded to, as if the whole 
body was to be lifted off the seat by the joint support of 
oar and stretcher. The sudden application of full strength 
to the oar in the water without waste of motion in air is a 
question of knack, which cannot be expected to be learnt 
at once; but he who best acquires this knack will make 
most use of his stroke, supposing the stroke to be, more¬ 
over, well rowed through. Herein also is another snare 
into which men often fall who study a “catch,” regardless 
of its first principles. They catch the water, it is true; 
but, having caught it, they let it go again instead of carry¬ 
ing out the “drive” thus commenced right home to the 
chest, with a good swing back, the legs pressing rigidly 
the whole time. The recovery, though thoroughly elastic, 
should, especially towards its latter part,-be slow, measured 
and massive, compared to the sudden and lightning dash 
with which the motion should be reversed, and the swing 
back commenced with the new stroke. “Slow through 
the air, but no hang , and sharp through the water,” should 




THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


19 


be his maxim, and this relation of speed of stroke to re¬ 
covery should be rigidly maintained, even where the pace 
does not exceed twenty-six strokes per minute. The 
slower the swing forward the less exertion it causes, and 
that exertion saved on the weakest set of muscles can be 
expended on the strongest in driving the oar through the 
water; and though such a “drive” is individually more 
exhausting than a “draw,” it will command st> much more 
pace out of the boat that the same speed can be obtained 
by a fewer number of “drives” per minute than of “ draws,” 
so that the diminution in number of applications of power 
per minute atones for the extra exertion required to make 
them—quality more than makes up for quantity. 


“ FORM,” AND SWING. 

Square shoulders, straight swing, elastic recovery, absenco 
of doubling up at the finish, and of hang, and of bucket— 
all result as a matter of course if the directions laid down 
previously are carefully carried out. And, last of all, if 
the feet are placed against the stretcher, with toes pointed 
apart, so as to open the knees, and the strain of the stroke 
is done from the loins and legs, the back is sure to do its 
work with as straight an action as is natural to it. We do 
not say absolutely straight in all instances, but rather the 
reverse, if anything. 

That man does his work (qua swing) to best advantage 
whose body, when straight at the end of the stroke, makes 
an angle of twenty-two and a half degrees (one-fourth of 
a right angle), or even a trifle, more, with the perpendicu¬ 
lar, the reach forward having been full length. At the 
same time two things have to be considered:—1. Whether 
the man is physically capable of maintaining this length of 
swing back without sacrificing some of his reach forward. 
2. Whether his powers of recovery are adequate to the 
distance through which his- body has to be recovered for 
the next stroke. If both questions can be answered in the 
affirmative (not only for a short row, but for permanent 
work and racing) he is a good man. But because he is 
thus capable, it does not follow that every man has similar 
powers. An honest oar, doing all the work he can, will 
soon swing back all he can to get the most in his power 
out of the stroke set to him. The greatest mechanical 





20 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


power is when the oar is at right angles to the rowlock. 
“Work” is not placed at the same distance in all boats, 
but more or less in all the arms have begun to bend to row 
the stroke into the chest almost as soon as the oar has 
jrnssed the right angle to the rowlock. Tnough the body 
should continue to swing back till the arms overtake it 
and the oar reaches the chest, yet from the instant that the 
elbow-joint begins to bend the stroke greatly decreases in 
plij sical power. Yet this diminution of physical power 
takes place at a time when the mechanical power of the 
oar is greater than it was at the commencement of the 
stroke. The further the body swings back, the later is it 
necessaiy for the arms to commence their bend, and con¬ 
sequently a greater amount of that work at which the 
mechanical power of the oar is greater, and is done with 
still rigid arms, and with use of the body and Joins. 

In teaching a man to swing back he should be told to 
hold his head well up. The weight, if thrown back, assists 
his swing, while if hanging forward it acts in a contrary 
direction. A very common fault of beginners is to be con¬ 
stantly looking at their chests, as if to see that they are 
well opened at the finish. It is like a man looking round 
in a glass to see if his coat fits him behind. Even if it did 
fit him before, the shape is disordered the moment he 
turns his head and neck to reconnoitre himself. He does 
best to allow some other person to inform him of the fit 
while he holds himself straight; and so with an oarsman— 
if he wants to make sure that his chest is open, let him 
hold up his head and trust to being told, at least, if it is 
not then open. 


FAULTY FINISH. 

As a sample of how one fault breeds others dependent 
upon it, let us take that of finishing the stroke with the biceps 
instead of the muscles behind the shoulders. Who ever 
saw a man who so ‘finished, who did not also hollow his 
chest more or less, fail to sit thoroughly well up at the 
finish, and, finally, be irregular in his swing, too slow at 
first off the chest, with a bucket at the last to make up for 
lost ground (unless he saved the necessity for bucketing 
by only reaching out so far as he could without an extra 
rush at the end of the recovery, in which case rowing short 




THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


21 


is substituted for bucket)? The connection of all these 
faults can be traced. By finishing with the biceps the arm 
is bent more acutely at the elbow than in the orthodox 
finish. Then, i'f the elbows are kept close to the side 3 , the 
bend of the arm brings the hands too high at the finish, 
thus the oar goes too deep—another fault in this variation. 
If the hands are maintained at the right level, the oar is 
saved from going deep. This can only be secured by 
dog’s-earing the elbows, for they must go somewhere (the 
finish with the biceps bends the arm too acutely to admit 
of both hands and elbows being in correct position—one 
or other must give place, i.e., take up a wrong position). 
In either case whether the hands are too high or the elbows 
too-square at the finish, a bad recovery of the hands from 
the cnest results; in the former version from the labor of 
bringing out a deeply buried oar, in the latter version from 
the position of the arms at the commencement of the re¬ 
covery, for a man with his elbows at right angles to his 
ribs has not half so much power to push his oar away 
from him as one whose elbows are alongside of his body. 
The next stage is.that the body, instead of being briskly 
led in its swing forward by the shoot of the hands, has to 
lead them, and the result of a lurch of the body against 
the oar, before the hands are well out, is a slouch and hob 
lowing of the chest. All this wastes time in the recovery, 
and the lost time has to be made up by a bucket at the 
end of the swing, or a compromise in the way of a short 
reach, or getting late into the water. 


WRONG GRASP. 

A faulty hold of the oar is generally at the root of scores 
of faults—a too full grasp with the whole fist will be 
deadening the play of the wrist, causing the oar to sink 
deep, cramping the finish, and so hampering recovery, 
swing, time, etc. Thus of two pupils both may be rowing 
deep, both hanging at the chest, both late in swing for¬ 
ward, and bucketing, yet 1 each from a different primary 
cause. 

A loosening of the outside hand of the oar may be some¬ 
times cause, sometimes effect. It may come from dog’s- 
earing elbows, for an arm in this position is very prone to 
shirk its work at the finish from the inconvenience of its 




22 


TILE MODERN OARSMAN. 


posture ; or, vice versa, the dog’s-earing of the outside elbow 
only, the inside one being finished properly, will be the re¬ 
sult of a loosened hand in most cases. The hand being 
loose, the work of the hand instinctively slackens with ab¬ 
sence of work, the impulse to go on with the motion of the 
shoulder muscles at once vanishes, the hand has to get out 
of the way and to follow the oar home, and this it does 
with the more natural motion of a bend at the elbow joint 
—the joint in such a case must stijk out—if the oar is 
rowed home at the proper depth by the remaining inside 
hand, or else one hand would be at a much higher level 
than the other, and both could not be touching the oar. 
But whichever fault first causes the other, the result is 
again a sluggish.recovery and the usual inference, for one 
hand cannot do the work of two. A man who does thus is 
best cured by a change of sides and coaching separately in 
a pair-oar gig on the changed side. This compels him to 
use his idle hand when it finds itself on the inside. If the 
man has rowed on both sides with the same fault, he can 
be made to use his outside hand by telling him to take the 
inside hand clear off the oar as he rows into his chest. 
The idle hand is thus compelled to work. A fault of this 
sort often becomes so mechanical that a man can hardly 
break himself of it at first without some such means as this, 
however burlesque they may seem. “Capping” the oar 
with outside hand is a variation, or rather exaggeration, of 
the same fault, and should be similarly treated. 


OVERREACH. 

Overreaching with the shoulders most always comes from 
an anxiety to row long, or to appear to row long ; but it 
causes waste of power, for the shoulders, if not braced back 
by the muscles behind the shoulder-blade, give still more 
under the strain of the stroke, so that the body is not 
“ taut,” and thus is pulling upon a spring. The farther 
back the shoulders are held, the more is the collar-bone 
arched forward, and thus it adds to the support of the 
shoulders, forming an arch against which the sockets press. 
If the shoulders are slackened forward, the arch of the col¬ 
lar-bone flattens and becomes almost a straight line ; and 
the more it does so, the less support does it give to the 
shoulders. Thus, the more they stretch in the reach, the 






WM. SCHARFF. 

From a Photograph by Bishop, Pittsburg, Pa. 










EVAN MOEEIS. 

From a Photograph by Eobinson, Pittsburg, Pa, 











THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


23 


more they give when the strain falls upon them. The 
sequence of overreaching is a slack finish and feeble recov¬ 
ery, for the shoulders (if the stroke is to be eventually 
finished orthodoxly) have all the farther to work back into 
their proper position before the oar can be rowed home. 
If they are not eventually braced up by the finish^ the 
biceps must do the work to the finish. Overreaching is 
best cured by practical illustrations of the required atti- 
' tude out of the boat, and then a gentle paddle in a pair ; 
the less work done in the paddle, the better will this re¬ 
quired action be obtained. - 


MEETING OAR AND ROWING DEEP. 


Woodgate in his treatise says: Meeting the oar and row¬ 
ing deep at the finish (without necessarily a slant of the oar 
caused by a faulty hold, but a slower dive of the oar, at its 
proper angle) usually arise from the same fault. Often 
they co-exist—both engendered simultaneously—the one 
still further increasing the other. The cause in each case 
is, rowing the finish of the stroke with the arms only, the 
body having ceased, or nearly ceased, to work. The legs 
work instictively on behalf of the body, and the body de¬ 
pends on the legs. If the legs leave off pressing the 
stretcher before the hands get home, the body stops work, 
and is dragged forward again by the finish. Or, again, if 
the body ceases to swing back, and leaves the arms to finish 
alone, the legs generally slacken their pressure simultane¬ 
ously by instinct, and the result is that the body is pulling 
forward by the work of the arms. Another result is that 
the arms, heavily taxed to row the oar home by themselves, 
find the oar go easier edgeways than square in the water. 
They either bring it out too soon, finishing in the air, or 
they first rise above the proper level and sink the oar, and 
then lower again, and bring it back to its level and out of 
the water. This up-and-down journey keeps time while 
the other men are'rowing the stroke home in the ordinary 
way, and is less exertion to the arms than rowing the oar 
out square by their own unaided efforts. The remedy for 
both these faults, arising from one cause, is to tell the 
learner to keep his feet pressing up to the end of the stroke. 
This will make his body work ; his body, working back, will 










24 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


not double forward ; and the arms, aided in their efforts, 
will, with a little care, return to their proper line of action , 
—keeping the hands throughout in the same plane ; the 
rowing deep will thus be cured. 


SCREWING. 

In “ screwing/’ the body g,t the finish of the stroke is out 
of the line of the keel of the boat, either overhanging the ; 
water, or twisted back into the centre of the boat. Now, 
as a man is supposed to be built evenly at the outset, it is 
hard to see why he should work in a one-sided manner to 
his own discomfort; unless there is some external agency j 
beyond his own’ direct control (so far as the swing goes) - j 
which thus perverts him. If it is really apparent that this 
screw comes from an endeavor on the part of an oars- - 
man to do his work with one arm or one leg in preference | 
to the other, the fault must then be confessed to be directly 
attributable to his faulty and one-sided swing; but in nine¬ 
ty-nine cases out of a hundred the case is just the reverse; 
it is that the discomfort of the man’s seat is such that he 
cannot, in an upright attitude, utilize both sides of his 
frame, and he accordingly seeks an attitude in which he 
can, according to existing circumstances, use his body 
more fully. The cause in such a case will probably be a , 
wrong level of the rowlock compared to the seat. That 
level may be wrong in the boat itself, or it may be made ft 
wrong during the stroke by the inequality in the trim of 
the sides of the boat, owing to some fault in the rowing, ' 
most probably a feather under water. But though the 
level of the rowlock is the commonest cause, others may 
exist. The one, a cramped stretcher, or rather a cramped 
posture for the feet against the stretcher; the feet may be 
badly placed by the builder; either both on one side of the ? 
keel, so much to the outside that the body cannot be 
seated opposite to them, and so the result is a swing into 
the boat at the finish; or the feet may be placed one on 
each side of the keel, the inside feet being thus too much 
inside of the body, and thus tending to make it swing out 
of the boat. If the boat is systematically “down ’ on one 
side, even that does not conclusively prove that the. fault 
originally lies in the rowing only, which has made the boat 





THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


25 ‘ 

thus off its keel; it affords strong grounds for presump¬ 
tion, but that is all. A rowlock below its right level will 
cause its man great difficulty in getting out his oar, and 
probably tend to make him drag the boat still more down 
upon his oar in his efforts to get it out at the finish. A 
sprung oar, or one that is not square-loomed, or a thowl-. 
pin raking the wrong way, or the sill of a rowlock sinking 
from stopper to thowl, may one or each be at the root of 
the evil, apart from the possible misadjustment of seat or 
stretcher. 


FEATHER UNDER WATER. 


The fault of feathering under water is one of the commonest, 
and to it may be traced a large proportion of other faults. 
Yet in itself it need not always be a primary fault. Apart 
from the chances of a bad oar and rowlock (the old story 
again), it may come from a faulty hold of the oar. If so, 
the remedy for that has already been treated of, and the 
proper way to hold an oar has been explained. But the 
fault is as often original as secondary; it may come from 
want of practice in the finish, slurring the two motions of 
drop and turn of the hands into one motion, so that they 
either come simultaneously, instead of the drop preceding, 
or, worse still, the turn may actually precede the drop. 
The motions in a general feather should be so rapid that 
the eye cannot detect what is wrong by simply watching 
tile hands of the oarsman; but, as explained when treating 
of the way to learn a feather elsewhere, the-way to detect 
what the hands are doing is to watch what the oar is doing. 
The latter tells its own tale. The remedy must be the same 
as the primary action of a feather. “Loafing” in light 
boats before the oarsmen are proficient, and especially bad 
pair-oar rowing, lays the seed of much feathering under 
water. The boat rolls at first from inequality of time and 
swing. To remedy this the oarsmen, instead of boldly 
dropping the hands, and trusting to the bodies to “sit” 
the boat, keep the oar close to the surface of the water to 
steady the boat. The drop-is lost, the feather reversed, 
and the actions of drop and turn confused, transposed, etc. 
The feather under water‘thus engendered by want of con¬ 
fidence in sitting the boat destroys the steadiness of the 
craft, spoils the natural level of the rowlocks, and so often 



26 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


breeds a screw out of the boat, as the only way of com¬ 
promising the difficulty sufficiently to enable both legs and 
arms to do a share of *vork. Possibly in such a pair each 
man may screw to match the other instinctively. Such a 
sight is too common. Steadiness, therefore, is procured 
at the expense of a certain amount of backing water, caused 
by each feathering under water; and at the further ex¬ 
pense of a waste of strength by placing the body other 
than opposite to both feet, from which the main support 
to the rest of the body must spring. 


UNEVEN SWING. 

Uneven swing forward is sometimes due to a “bucket,” 
which is caused by sluggish early recovery, entailing a 
necessary rush later on to make up lost ground. This 
sluggishness in recovery may be secondary, owing to a 
hang of the hands, due to primary faults of feather under 
water, rowing deep, finishing with biceps, loosing one 
hand at the finish, or other faults which have already been 
treated of. If, however, none ol these, appear, or the re¬ 
covery is simply spontaneously sluggish, special drill out 
of the boat will remedy this being late with the hands, and 
so will facilitate the rest of the recovery. But it sometimes 
happens that a man is uneven in his swing forward, with¬ 
out any hang of the hands. In that case the reason will 
be found to be that he does not use all the muscles applic¬ 
able for recovery of the body at the same moment, but 
uses them in detail, or omits some altogether. The re¬ 
covery should be from muscles of loins, abdomen and legs, 
the latter gaining their “purchase” from the strap. If a 
man sits with his legs tucked underneath him, he will still 
find that he has a certain power of recovery left in his 
loins, apart from that of the abdominal muscles. It is this 
power of the loins which is frequently neglected, either 
wholly, or for part of the swing forward. Every ounce of 
labor saved on recovery tells .a tale in a distance when 
racing, for not only is there exhaustion of the whole frame 
generally, but loss of reach, and so opportunity for the 
back (which may not yet be tired out) to do its work is 
thrown away. 



THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


27 


NOT ROWING STROKE HOME. 

A loose button , not pressing close to the rowlock as the 
oar stroke is finished, is a common fault with beginners. 
It is seldom, if ever, a spontaneous fault, but exists in con¬ 
nection with some other. Either the oarsman is screwing 
out of the boat, and so falls away from his oar, drawing it 
after him at the finish (in which case the cure for screw¬ 
ing, already entered into, should remedy this simultaneous¬ 
ly), or the cause may be a slack finish, or a finish in the 
air, the oar not being rowed “home;” so long as the oar 
does good work it can hardly help forcing the button up 
to the thowl, but, if the pressure of work is taken *off the 
oar towards the end of the stroke, the oar is as likely as 
not to leave the thowl; however, in such a case, to cure 
the looseness of the button, attack the slackness of the 
finish which occasions it. 

But the button may be loose at another time, and more 
commonly so, viz., in the recovery. This may happen be¬ 
cause the oarsman has screwed away from his oar at the 
finish, as before, but it often happens, without any per¬ 
ceptible screw, from sheer want of “watermanship.” The 
pupil must be told to “feel” the rowlock all the time that 
he is recovering, without going into the opposite extreme 
of lying upon his oar as he swings forward; a loose button 
during recovery affects the whole of a crew. The man who 
does so is necessarily swinging forward without any sup¬ 
port to himself laterally, and gives helplessly with each 
roll of the. boat. He also helps to make a lurch on his 
own account, for the alteration of the length of the oar in 
and out beard, backwards and forwards, must, more or 
less, mar the time of the boat each time the shift takes 
place. The first requisite for learning watermanship is to 
keep the button tight against the rowlock. Many a man 
who is strong enough to finish with the right muscles is 
not capable of rowing the stroke through in time with the 
rest of a crew if he uses the wrong muscles. Or the cause 
may be an overreach in the shoulders when forward; the 
shoulders, in such a case, have not only to bear the strain 
of the first part of the stroke at a disadvantage, but have also 
an extra distance to go back before the stroke can be finished 
with the proper muscles, and thus finish is weakened. Or the 
stroke may be not rowed out simply because the oar is taken 
out of the water too soon, the drop of the hands having in 
such a case come before the hands have reached the chest. 


28 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


CROOKED SWING. 

Swinging across the boat is often seen without being accom¬ 
panied by a direct screw. It may occur because the oars¬ 
man leans too much on his oar as he goes forward; or it 
may be that he does not sit square, but sits round towards 
his oar; or it may arise from uneven trim of the boat, not 
but that a good oarsman will not allow his straightness of 
swing to be put out by such a minor desagrement. Sitting 
crookedly is, however, the most usual cause of the fault. 
A man may sit crooked from the bias of his head, which 
he has turned over his inside shoulder, in following the 
back in front of him. Again, when a man is forward, the 
handle df his oar lies so much inside of him that it is im¬ 
possible for both body and arms at that moment to lie true 
to the line of the keel of the boat. It is the arms that 
should give way, and should slant to follow the oar. They 
come square as the oar reaches the middle of the stroke. 
But in trying to make the most of the beginning of the 
stroke, a man sometimes unconsciously sets both his body 
and arms square to the handle at the first catch, with a 
view of gaining more power, but loses leg work, and 
weakens the rest of the stroke by so doing. He must be 
made to sit square to the stretcher at the outset, to be 
content to have his body, therefore, not quite square to the 
oar-handle at the beginning of the stroke, the arms follow¬ 
ing the oar, but not the body. This is best done by telling 
him for a season to set his head well over his outside 
shoulder, and to take time from the loom of the.next oar 
in front of him, and not from the back in front. This will 
soon bring him straight. The mere weight of his head on 
the outside will prevent him from swinging across the boat, 
and so sure as he has cured his swing, he can again take 
the time in the proper way from the back in front of him. 

-- 


FOULING THE WATER. 

Fouling the water in going forward not only checks the 
way of the boat between the strokes, but also causes a 
lurch of the boat away from the oar that so fouls if the 
w r ater is struck with any degree of violence. If the stretcher 
has not been placed too short, the fault will be either that 
the hands do not drop sufficiently at the finish of the stroke, 







CHARLES E. COURTNEY. 

From a Photograph by Ernsbeeoer & Ray, Auburn, N. Y. 
















» 


















THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


29 


or that they are not shot out quickly enough from the 
chest so as to clear the knees before the latter begins to 
rise from the natural bend of the knees as the body swings 
forward. Insufficient drop of the hands, or sluggish re¬ 
covery of the same from the chest, is then the cause of this 
fault, and the cure should be directed accordingly. 


WATERMANSHIP. 

A good oarsman should not only be able to keep time and 
swing, but should always have command over himself and 
his oar, and not be thrown out by a lurch of the boat or 
rough water. The first thing an oarsman has to do is to 
keep his own balance. Having succeeded in doing so, he 
can next learn to secure the balance of others. To do so 
he must always be on the look out for a’ coming lurch, 
must be quick with his hands, sit tight to his seat, and 
ready to anticipate. The rest he must learn for himself; 
practice only can make him perfect. 


BENT ARMS AND WANT OF CATCH. 

If a man honestly wishes to work, and yet finds his row- 
lock at a level, or his oar lying at an angle to the water at 
which he cannot get his body to do its work, he will try to 
do his best with his arms, which are all that remain avail¬ 
able. Some men, in their anxiety to get sharp hold of the 
first catch of the water, endeavor to add to the force by 
bending their arms at the same time that they apply legs, 
loins, etc. This they would not do if they already made 
all the use available of the last named muscles, for the 
strain would then be too great for bent arms to bear; but 
so long as the use of these muscles is but half developed 
there is scope for the arms to join in the catch, and for the 
time being the oar comes a trifle faster through the water 
during the first part of the stroke. But the result is not 
only that the arms soon tire under the strain of coupling 
shoulders to legs with bent joints—and a man who so rows 
proves no stayer—but still more, the arms, by thus taking 
upon themselves part of the duty that should belong to 
other muscles, prevent those other muscles from ever 





30 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


bringing themselves up to the regular standard; for they 
develop according to strain put upon them, supply follow¬ 
ing demand, and if the strain is thus eased by .the arms 
development is no longer urged. 

It is easy to hit the water by rowing the first part of the 
stroke in the air, and so getting an impetus on the blade, 
but in such a case it is not the first part, but the middle 
of the stroke that is caught, the first part being non-ex¬ 
istent (in the water). To avoid this the hands should be 
carefully shot out at the proper level, not too low. The 
stroke, when once caught, must be held, drawing it well 
through. When it is “dropped” after being carefully 
caught, it is because legs and body are not actively in con¬ 
cert, the body has been thrown sharply on, but the legs 
have not backed it up by rigid resistance. The legs must 
be ready to feel the stretcher and to stiffen against it the 
instant the body feels the strain of the stroke. 

Sharp motions are performed with less accuracy than 
slow ones. A crew that is taught to put its oars gently 
into the water will be able to do so with far more accuracy 
at first than one which sends them in with a dash. 


ADVANTAGES OF SLIDING SEATS. 

Sliding seats were said to have revolutionized rowing 
when first they gained recognition. In one sense they 
may be said to have been revolutionary, in that they gave 
such an access of power that those who used them, even 
if they set at defiance ordinary rules of good rowing—es¬ 
pecially of body work—were still able to obtain more pace 
than those of similar physical calibre, who, though rowing 
in sound form and with good body work, were confining 
themselves to fixed seats. Most of the new votaries fol¬ 
lowed it by light of nature, and not on scientific principles; 
but as the use of the slide became better understood, and 
a few good specimens began to display themselves, it was 
soon seen that good sliding was as far ahead in pace of bad 
and primitive' sliding as the worse editions of the new art 
were ahead of the old fixed-seat style. Bad sliding will, 
as a rule, defeat good rowing on a fixed seat (assuming 
physique to be equal in each case), but that is no reason 
why sliding should not be so cultivated as to possess all 
the excellences of the best fixe 1-seat rowing, and yet to 



THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


31 


have in addition the extra action and power which is essen¬ 
tially characteristic of the “ slide.’’ Even bad crews adopt¬ 
ing sliding seats at short notice, and w T ith but an embryo 
knowledge of how to use them, gained at once such a pal¬ 
pable accession of speed that it was plain that if sliding 
with bad rowing could do thus much, sliding combined 
with good rowing could effect still more. Sliding on the 
seat had been practiced for some years before the sliding 
seat came in. The strain of drawing the body up* and 
down with the legs was not too great at the slower stroke 
which scullers use; but at the quicker stroke which is ap¬ 
plied in rowung, quicker on tiie average by six to even ten 
strokes per minute, the strain upon the legs was too great 
to allow of its being sustained for any length of time. 
Renforth’s Champion Four used to slide on fixed seats for 
a spurt, but not for any prolonged distance. Somehow it 
never seemed to strike English oarsmen that, though the 
bugbear of sliding was confessedly friction upon the seat, 
the whole machine might be simplified by making the seat 
slide with the body, instead of the body slide upon the 
seat. To the late Walter Brown* this adaptation of the 
principle is theoretically due. He had wits to see that if 
the body was to slide upon the seat, it was simpler that it 
should do so upon a false seat, itself sliding upon the 
real seat below. An English crew on their return from 
America speedily put into execution a sliding seat, and its 
value was practically proved in the great four-oared race 
that took place cn the Tyne in November, 1871. James 
Taylor, who had meantime perfected the wrinkle which he 
had recently picked up in the New World, in the crew com¬ 
posed of James Taylor, Thomas Winship, Joseph Sadler 
and Robert Bagnall, persuaded his crew to adopt his plan. 
This use of the novelty was kept carefully dark to the last 
hour from their opponents, and the race, when it came off, 
was most hollow, owing chiefly to the use of the sliding 
seat. Chambers’ crew was nowhere. A couple of sculling 
races on the Thames in the following' Spring more fully 
proved the utility of the sliding seat. It added power and 
speed without in any way detracting from powers of en¬ 
durance, as had been formerly the case where sliding was 
practiced on fixed seats. Not that those who slid (sculling) 
on fixed seats had been the worse or slower in the long 
run for so doing. Those who attempted it in rowing, to a 
greater extent than for mere spurts, had been the losers 
in the long run by it, for the reasons above explained. But 


32 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


tlie removal of the bugbear of friction at once established 
conclusively the value of the novelty, and from that hour 
it gained rapid recognition among rowing men. Before 
the season of 1872 came to an end hardly a race was rowed 
by oarsmen of any pretensions except on the new principle. 

The simplest method of appreciating what is the action 
on a sliding seat is to recall for an instant the action of 
body and legs upon a fixed seat. On the latter the body 
does, the main work of' the stroke, but is supported and 
kept in the position necessary for this work by a rigid re¬ 
sistance of the legs against the stretcher. The length of 
that stretcher on a fixed seat is, or should be, the shortest 
at which the pupil can clear his knees with his hands in 
the recovery. Upon a fixed seat mechanical and physical 
power are to some extent in antagonism. The body would 
have more physical power the shorter the stretcher was 
placed, but if shortened beyond a certain point it causes 
the kiiees to be so bent that the hands can only clear them 
by raising the rowlock to a higher level, and so forfeiting 
a certain amount of mechanical power. Hence a compro¬ 
mise between mechanics and physique is effected, and the 
stretcher is placed only so short, and the knees are only 
so bent, as not to sacrifice mechanical power by placing 
the rowlock too high-. 

On a fixed seat the body swings upon a fixed pivot. On 
a sliding seat the pivot itself moves fore and aft, while the 
body swings upbn it, and the arc described by the body is 
correspondingly enlarged. „ The arc described on a fixed 
seat is circular, similar to that which the spoke of a wheel 
revolving, but not progressing, would describe. The legs 
on sliding seats may be said to exercise the same average 
support to the body as they do on a fixed seat, and the 
body, meantime describing a lorger arc, does a correspond¬ 
ing extra amount of work. Although the reach of stroke 
that a slide on the seat alone—devoid of motion of body— 
would attain would be, from its very shortness, less effect¬ 
ive in propelling a boat than a less powerful but longer 
stroke rowed by the body without a slide, yet when this 
slide comes to be coupled with a very small amount of 
swing, such an amount as would not be dignified with the 
name of rowing on a fixed seat, the two combined produce 
more propelling power than can be obtained from the 
mere body stroke on the fixed seat. 

The theory of sliding should be simply this: 1. That the 
body does its own work, as heretofore on a fixed seat. 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


33 


2. That the legs back up the body as before, but, instead 
of a mere rigid resistance as formerly, simply propping the 
pivot of action in its place while the body hinged upon it, 
the legs now do still more. Let a man throw his body on 
to the oar as before, when, on a fixed seat; the instant he 
does this his legs instinctively come into play to suppoi*t 
the body. Then, while he insists upon carrying out his 
original swing, let him gradually extend his legs, and shift 
the pivot of action backwards as he swings upon it, taking 
care that the pivot is never moved too fast to admit of the 
body doing its full and usual swing. In fact, the latter 
may be carried much farther back—indeed should be so— 
than w'ould admit of good recovery on a fixed seat; for the 
facilities for recovery which a sliding seat gives enable a 
man to go much farther back than on a fixed seat, and yet 
to gain rather than lose power by so doing. 

But on sliding seats the best form of recovery is not quite a 
converse of the action of the stroke. The hands follow 
the same rule as on a fixed seat, viz., a quick shootout, 
and the rest of the recovery performed with rigid arms; 
but, with regard to the relations between slide and swing, 
these do not repeat conversely the action of the stroke. 
In the latter the crucial point was that slide should not 
run away from swing, but in recovery it may Vvith advan¬ 
tage do so. The body should not wait for the slide to com¬ 
plete its task, and then follow, but for all that it may allow 
the slide to hurry in advance of it, following meantime at 
a reasonable pace, and completing the swing after the slide 
forward has been completed. 

The recovery of the slide itself should be performed by 
contracting all the flexor muscles of the legs and feet sim¬ 
ultaneously—the ankle and knee should work together. 
The mere bending of the knee, so long as the foot is kept 
flat to the stretcher, will suffice to bend the ankle-joint,' 
even if the muscles that work the latter are passive, but 
the ankle should be active, and not merely passive, and 
should take its own share in the work of the slide. 

Th e length of the stretcher should be as short as can be 
used while allowing the hands to clear the knees as they 
pass each other during the stroke. The hands, by being 
shot out quickly on the recovery, get in front of the knees 
before the latter have come to an acute bend, and at the 
moment that the water is caught at the commencement of 
the stroke tbe knees should be actually higher than the 
hands by some three inches. The legs should never be 


34 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


straight at the end of the stroke; there should always be 
some bend left at the knees, not only to afford proper sup¬ 
port to the body at the end of the swing, but also to facili¬ 
tate the recovery; for when the knees are straight the 
mechanical power of the flexor muscles is at a “ dead 
point,” and the extra exertion of getting the legs under 
way is not compensated for by any work gained by the 
exira length of slide to the point when the legs are thus 
straightened. Whereas, if the legs are slightly bent at 
the commencement of the recovery the muscles work to 
greater advantage, and the flexion is completed with 
greater ease. 

The ordinary oar-handle will, with the extra reach ob¬ 
tained by sliding, be found to lie too far inside the body at 
full reach forward and backward by some two inches. If . 
the oar is thus too short, the oarsman. cannot swing well 
back, and yet keep his inside hand both on the oar and 
yet flat to his ribs and doing its proper work. The oars, 
therefore, must be lengthened inboard to allow for the 
extra reach, and with that addition a certain proportionate 
length outboard must be added, else the oar will come too 
easily through the water. Though a nine-inch slide can 
be properly used in good practice, it by no means follows 
that a trainer should feel himself bound to try to work a 
raw crew up to the use of this length for their first race of 
this sort. All depends upon the time available, and the 
proficiency of his pupils. It is better to make sure of 
mastering a certain amount of slide than to risk spoiling 
all by attempting too much. More pace will be gained by 
a six-inch slide, combined with good swing of body, than 
by a nine-inch with swing abandoned; and the former will 
not sow seeds of future bad rowing, as will the latter. 

The above theories and explanations are the opinions of 
W. B. Woodgate, who in England is looked upon as an 
authority concerning these matters. Some of our American 
scullers believe that more speed can be got from a four- 
inch slide than from a six or nine-inch slide. 

In reference to this latest improvement in connection with 
the art of rowing, Hr. G-. M. Humphrey, of Cambridge Uni¬ 
versity, Eng., wnites as follows: “The stroke is lengthened 
by the straightening of the knees, and this is effected by 
the ‘increased action’ of the muscles, which, in the ordinary 
mode of rowing, are not used in proportion to other 
muscles; that is to say, the stroke is lengthened, the pull¬ 
ing force increased, and the muscular action more equal- 





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FEED A. PLAIS1ED. 


From a Photograph by Eichaedsoj.', Brooklyn, N. Y. 



















ELLIS WAKD. 

From a Photograph by O’Neil, New Fork. 



JOHN BIGLIN. 

From a Photograph by Notman, Montreal, P. Q. 





THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


35 


ized in different parts of the body. This advantage may 
be, to some extent, counterbalanced by the lessened fixity 
of the point diappue of tlie trtink muscles consequent on 
the increased movement in the joints of the lower limbs. 
To what extent this would operate it is difficult to tell. 
Indeed, the question arising out of joint and muscular 
action involves so many complex problems that it is no 
easy matter to determine them satisfactorily.” 

Dr. Curnow, of King’s College, London, Eng., also bears 
the following testimony to the advantages, physically 
speaking, which this style of seat possesses over its pre¬ 
decessors: “The reason why the sliding seat does not 
fatigue the body so much as tlie stationary seat is, I think, 
easily explained by the strain being more completely 
thrown on entirely different groups of muscles, which con¬ 
tract during the stroke, and relax in the reach forward, 
and vice versa. By this easy alteration of the leg-muscles 
the chances of cramp are reduced to a minimum.” 


THE ART OF SCULLING. 

If a man has a fair idea of rowing, but has never handled 
sculls in any shape, we would advise him to commence 
thus:—1. To keep clear of a sculllng-boat for the first day 
or two. 2. To hold in equally pious horror “hack” boats 
©f any description, especially “ whiffs.” A good outrigged 
gig should be used to commence operations. A “dingey” 
he should fight shy of; she is so short that when pressed she 
will hold no “ way,” will turn too easily, and from the fact 
that she goes no faster for a long stroke, may teach him 
to row short from the outset. Let him see that the thowls 
of his gig are “proud” (raking forward), and devoid of 
grooves in the upper portions of the thowl, worn by the 
upper angle only of the loom of the scull pressing the 
thowl in a feather under water, which -is too common 
among scullers. Let him next see that his stopper is far 
enough off from the thowl to prevent his sculls from “lock¬ 
ing” in the rowlock when forward. Few gig rowlocks are 
wide enough between thowl and stopper for even full reach 
in rowing, without some filing away of the stopper, and a 
wader rowlock is needed for sculling than for rowing, from 
the sharper angle which the scull, compared to the oar, 
makes with the rowlock ^when the body is forward), from 



36 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


tbe fact of its being shorter inboard. If be confines bis 
reach in bis first essay to that suffered by narrow rowlocks, 
be will, when he comes tp reach out more fully in tbe 
wider rowlocks of a seuiling-boat, find bis bards not ‘‘to¬ 
gether 5 ’in tbe increased reach, but one getting into tbe 
watpr before tbe other. Tbe best way to bold bis sculls, 
so as to avoid cramp of wrist, and to prevent bis band 
shifting away from tbe end of tbe scull when greasy from 
perspiration (thus losing leverage), is to let tbe upper 
joint of tbe thumb “cap” tbe end of tbe bandies. Let 
him put his stretcher as short as be can possibly bear it, 
and of course commence with a fixed seat, even if be hns 
been ever so proficient in rowing upon a slide. He will 
have enough to do in thinking bow to get bis bands in and 
out of tbe water together, when commencing sculling, to 
have any spare attention to bestow upon sliding, and if he 
practices the latter without thought be may breed faults 
for which he will be sorry hereafter. Let him choose a 
pair of sculls that lie true in the rowlocks, and, if possible, 
let him get a proficient to test the true b6aring of the sculls 
for him before he uses them, that he may know whether 
unevenness in their action be the result of misfortune or of 
fault. The amount that they should overlap at the hands 
is to some extent entirely a matter for his own 'taste, but if 
be has no taste in the matter he will find five inches a safe 
medium. Let him speed bis first two or three days, if 
not more, in long, steady practice in his gig. The same 
principles that he learnt in rowing—of straight arms when 
the water is first caught, use of back, loins and legs—he 
must still put in force. But he should keep his arms 
straight for a longer distance of swing, and may go much 
farther back before he begins to bend his arms and to 
bring them into his body than when rowing. As his arms 
begin to near the body he may bring himself up by them, 
pull himself up to bis sculls at the finish, a thing which 
with bis oar he should not do. A sculler should endeavor 
to do as much work' as he can with stiff arms, his body and 
loins doing the main duty; he may go back almost to his 
full available distance before he bends his arms at all; if 
he were then to continue to go back still farther, all the 
time that hi§ arms were coming in to the body, he would 
go back too far for his powers of recovery. If lie were to 
stop his body for his arms to overtake it, he would be dur¬ 
ing that time making no use of his body, and wasting time 
with it; but by commencing recovery with the body before 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


37 


the arms have come home he economizes his body, wastes 
no time, eases his recovery, and prevents his boat’s head 
from burying. So much for the action of body and arms; 
his hands must require special attention. He must try to 
time them to the tenth of a second, that the sculls shall 
fall into the water simultaneously, and shall leave the water, 
with wrists simultaneously turned, at the same instant. If 
he does not acquire this knack in the gig to some extent 
he will find himself all abroad in a wager-boat. So soon 
as he has some confidence in the even action of his hands 
(which long and painstaking rows will best attain) he can 
go into a wager-boat. When first he so promotes himself 
he must call all his oarsmanship into play. He must “sit” 
the boat for himself; no one else will do it for him. He 
must not trust to his sculls to steady the boat on the re¬ 
covery, nor let them slobber along the surface of the water 
to preserve balance. He must drop his hands and lift the 
sculls boldly out when the stroke is finished. Koll at first 
he will, but for this he must make up his mind, and must 
try to counteract it by balance of his body, and by sitting 
tight, not by sliding his sculls along the surface of the 
water to steady himself. If he does this last he may coun¬ 
teract unsteadiness, but will never acquire the art of bal¬ 
ance, nor cure the faults that caused him to roll—will 
rather add to them by feathering under water, and will lose 
inches and inches of shoot at each stroke bv thus fouling 
the water. Half the crab-like contortions that junior, and 
even senior, scullers display (one arm bent over the other, 
one shoulder shrugged, one arm longer in the reach than 
the other, or. one rowed home, and the other finishing 
inches away from the chest) may be traced to uneven 
sculls or work which prevent the body from throwing 
equal weight upon each arm. It is true that many scullers 
spring at once to a wager-boat without an apprenticeship 
in a steady gig, but they do not become proficient any 
sooner for so doing, and many a sculler in a wager-boat 
who cannot get his hands in time, and spoils his style and 
steadiness in consequence, would obviate half his difficul¬ 
ties if he would condescend to do two or three long rows 
in a well laid-out gig, paying special attention to the uni¬ 
formity of his hands. 

Steering is an all-important accomplishment for a sculler, 
not only to save distance, but also to avoid risk of fouling 
when he comes to racing. If Hie course is pretty clear the 
sculler will soon learn not to trust to looking round more 


38 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


than to get his boat’s head straight for the reach of water 
in which he is, and then he will keep his eyes on the stern 
of his boat, and regulate that by some distant object 
ashore, as an artilleryman lays a gun, so as to keep the 
straight line in which he has laid his boat. It stands to 
reason that he shortens the reach of the arm on which 
side he turns his head to look behind him, and loses his 
power. As he gets to know a particular course well, he 
will fall back each time upon the same steerage points for 
guidance, and only those who have sculled to utter distress 
can appreciate the gain of being able to take up, almost 
by force of habit, and without any exertion of calculation 
in the mind, each necessary steerage point in turn over a 
well-known course. As he watches his boat’s stern the 
sculler will be able to judge of the evenness of the action 
of his hands. He can see whether they work evenly 
throughout the stroke, or whether one rows the other 
round in .the first part, and has to slacken to allow the 
other to bring the boat straight in the finish of the stroke. 
If this is done, he will see that not only does he lose 
ground by the boat’s wake being thus an elongated Z at 
each stroke, but also he loses power by one hand working 
weaker than the other at one time, and the other at 
another. If he can bring the hand that is weakest in the 
first part of the stroke up to the level of the other, he will 
gain not only in this, but will also no longer have to waste 
strength with the other hand at the finish. In his steering 
he must be on the watch to correct the first beginning of 
deviation from his course, and to adjust the work of each 
hand accordingly. In time he will learn to keep his stern- 
post true to his steerage .object, without having constantly 
to awake to the consciousness that he is many degrees out 
of his due line, and so having not only to waste strength in 
rectifying it, but also to lose ground in returning to his 
lost track. Steerage apparatus now takes much of the 
labor off the arms of righting the boat in its course; but a 
beginner will learn best to work evenly with both hands if 
at first he dispenses with such apparatus. The power of 
rectifying unevenness by a touch of the foot upon the steer¬ 
age lever tempts many a man to be careless of studying 
even work of both hands, which would obviate constant 
appliance of the rudder. Besides, the best fitted rudder 
must more or less “ draw” the water, and so check “ way;” 
and so on smooth water a sculler who can use his hands 
evenly, and can steer a good course without it, nor has 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


39 


many tortuous corners to navigate, will go faster without 
a rudder than with one. 

Length of stroke tells in any craft, but more in a scull¬ 
ing than a rowing boat. The longer the stroke the less 
frequent repetition it requires, and, therefore, the slower 
can be the swing forward. This latter not only tells upon 
the physique of the sculler, by sparing the strain of re¬ 
covery, but it also tells upon the travel of the boat, for a 
quick rush forward ducks the stem under water, and 
causes the boat to lose way, not only from being out of the 
plane of the water, but also from the weight of water lying 
for the instant upon her canvas, which increases the “ sur¬ 
face resistance” (or the extent of superficies of the hull, 
which is brought into contact with the water, and so into 
friction with and attraction to the particles of water). 

It is possible to scull a much longer stroke than can be 
rowed. Tne reach forward of the body has the same ap¬ 
proximate limits in each case. If anything, a sculler can 
reach his hands an inch or two farther forward than the 
oarsman, for the latter just at the end of his reach has his 
handle a little inside of him, his arms sloping across him, 
and not square to his body. The sculler is not thus cramp¬ 
ed; his arms shoot out square to his body on each side. 
But it is in the swing back that the sculler gains mostly in 
reach. If the oarsman goes too far back before bending 
his arms, the end of his oar-handle lies inside his body, 
and his power of finish, especially with the inside arm, is 
hampered, for the forearm can then no longer be parallel 
to the body. If his oar were made long enough inboard 
to enable him to go as far back as a sculler, it would cause 
his arms to be lying outside his body when the oar was at 
right angles to the gunwale, the period of the stroke when 
the mechanical power is greatest. A sculler, on the other 
hand, is always able to throw his weight in a direct line; 
his hands, though nearer or farther from each other at 
various periods of the stroke, always bear a strain corres¬ 
ponding in direction in the case of each, i.e., the joint 
direction of the two powers, right and left, according to a 
“parallelogram of forces,” would be in a line with the keel 
of the boat. Thus, however far the sculler goes back, his 
hands jointly never pull out of the line of the keel. So 
that it comes to thfl: the stroke of the oarsman is limited 
in length, because, beyond a certain angle of the oar with 
the gunwale, the body and arms cannot do their work in 
the plane of the keel nor in the same plane with each 


40 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


other. The stroke of the sculler is unfettered in this re¬ 
spect, and is limited eventually only by mechanical re¬ 
quirements (the limit of the angle which the scull can 
make with the thowl, without locking) and by the demands 
of recovery. This latter, even on a fixed seat, is easier 
work than in rowing, for the body when far back can pull 
up to the sculls. In rowing, as said above, this pulling up 
is not practiced, because (1) with a medium swing back it 
is not wanted, and the body should continue to go back 
till the hands overtake it; (2) with a swing back as far as 
sculling admits of, an oarsman would be unable to recover 
himself squarely by his Oar-liandle, for it would be inside 
his body, and out of the true plane. If, therefore, recovery 
is a matter of greater ease in sculling than in rowing 
(compared to the length of reach), even on a fixed seat, 
it is obvious that on a sliding seat there should be less 
difficulty in the return swing. The fact that the arms of 
the sculler are always jointly working in a line with the 
keel, and thus he is enabled to take a longer swing than 
in rowing, explains why, as a matter of practice, double- 
sculling is faster than pair-oar rowing. 

• Since, therefore, the body should swing farther back in 
sculling than in rowing, and slide should always be ex¬ 
tensive with swing, it is obvious that the legs must extend 
themselves more slowly in sculling than in rowing, else the 
body will have no leg-work left to drive it back the latter 
portion of the swing. As in rowing, the slide should never 
be so long (or the stretcher too far from the seat) as to 
allow the legs to be straight at the end of the slide. If 
they are allowed to straighten, not only is the latter portion 
of the swing weakened, but the powers of recovery are also 
hampered, for the muscles of the legs, when straight, being 
“at a dead point,” start at a disadvantage. 

The sculler should be careful not to let the finish of the 
stroke with the arms be anything like a jerk. As said 
above, the body should be just commencing to recover 
during the last part of the bend of the arms. If the 
body waits for the arms, and the latter come into the 
chest with a “swish,” the only result is that the boat’s 
head is buried, and .“way” lost. On a sliding seat the 
sculls, like oars, should be a trifle longer inboard, and, 
of course, in proportion outboard. This is to prevent 
the hands being too far apart at the extreme reach for¬ 
wards and backwards. Sculls for a sliding seat may be as 
much as six or six-and-a-half inches overhand, if the sculler 


WILLIAM H. DECKER. 

From a Photograph taken in Staten Island, N. T. 










WALLACE BOSS. 


Prom a Photograph by Climo, St. John, N. B. 




WABBEN SMITH. 

From a Photograph by Notmah, Halifax, N. S. 





THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


41 


makes sure of going back till his hands clear the ribs at 
the finish on each side of his body. If he does not go so 
far back as this, then he will do better with less overhand 
sculls, but with the first-named work and action of body 
he will command most pace. A sculler may take this as a 
rule, that his arms should reihain straight and liis body be 
going back till after his sculls have “opened” in'the swing 
back, i. e., till they are no longer overhand. This he can 
only secure by keeping a judicious reserve of slide and leg- 
work up to the last. 

Since the shorter the stretcher is, the more power will 
bo attained, it is necessary that the hands should clear the 
knees on the recovery as soon as possible, else even in 
smooth water they will not get by afterwards. When 
once the hands have got in front of the knees the slide 
forward should, as in the recovery of rowing, be completed 
rapidly, in advance of the body, thus giving an impetus to 
the body forward, and easing the strain of the abdominal 
muscles in swinging the body forward the last part of the 
reach. The arms should shoot to full stretch as quickly 
as they can after the hands have cleared the knees. This 
throw’s the shoulders back, aids respiration, and is also 
the most advantageous position for the arms to carry the 
weight of the sculls forward. No pair of sculls is ever the 
worse for an ounce or two of lead let into the butts of the 
handles. Any sculler who tries this will be surprised to 
find how it eases the weight of the sculls outboard, without 
adding any perceptible burden to the cargo of the boat. 
When forward the hands will be much lower than the 
knees. In the swing back, the hands should, with work 
and stretcher properly laid out, pass over the knees just 
at the instant when the knees have lowered themselves 
sufficiently to admit of the passage. It stands to reason 
that they cannof pass sooner, and if they pass later, it 
shows that the slide - has been too rapid in proportion to 
the swing. 

No sculler is a proficient till he is at home in rough water 
and work. To manoeuvre the former he must be able to 
drop his hands well when required, and to drop them evenly 
and simultaneously, else his trim is spoilt. A good sculler 
can go through rougher water than oars can, for the drop 
of the hands elevates the blade of a scull more than that 
of an oar. If water is very rough, a sculler must judge for 
himself whether he must not drop his hands and get them 
in advance of his knees before lie commences to bend the 


42 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


latter at all. His recovery is slower for so doing, but it is 
surer and freer from concussion with waves. 

In starting on a strong tide, with the boat’s stern held, 
the sculls must be flat to the water till the word is given, 
else the rush of water against the blades will strain the 
boat, and perhaps pull the sculler ofl his seat. Even with 
sculls thus flat to the last, it is difficult to turn both so 
simultaneously that each should catch an equal amount of 
water the first stroke. If they do not, not only is the 
boat’s course marred at the outset, but the form of the 
sculler is hampered for the next few strokes, and there is 
an off chance for an upset even for a good sculler. It is 
safer, and does not lose many feet of start on the first 
stroke, not to be full forward at first, to go forward a few 
inches more after the word to start is given, and then to 
commence, with evenness of sculls insured. In compara¬ 
tively still water this caution is unnecessary. 

A sculler should get away briskly, but it is bad policy 
to push for a lead at the price of forcing the pace beyond 
the sculler’s best average speed. To a good sculler (of 
good pluck) who can sit his boat, the wash of an opponent 
does but little comparative harm, far less than would a 
burst at starting at a pace which he could not maintain. 
A sculler will always improve himself by practising scull¬ 
ing in the wash of another. 

Since a sculler should endeavor in a race to select his 
best pace for the whole course, and not to be troubled at a 
lead, it is necessary for him to know almost instinctively 
what his best pace is. This he will learn if he times him¬ 
self day after day at various points over his course, and 
notes whether, as he increases his stroke, his times from 
point to point bear the same relative proportions to the 
time of the entire course. He can thus judge whether 
extra speed at the outset sacrifices staying .power farther 
on. He must only judge proportionately of his distances 
and times, for wind and stream may make the time of the 
whole course vary from day to day. 

In sculling on a tide, against a head wind and rough 
water, it should be borne in mind that a sculling-boat, 
being by its light weight easily influenced by wind, and 
holding less way and momentum than a larger boat, 
suffers more by opposition of wind and waves in mid-tide 
than it loses T>y loss of stream at the more sheltered sides 
of the river, where stream is weaker. 


43 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 

FOTJKS WITHOUT COXSWAINS. 


Fours ■without coxswains is, when properly manned and 
found, more conducive to good rowing than any other 
class of light boat. So long as coxswains were carried, a 
four-oar was the hardest craft to “sit” well of any. 
Though some inaccuracy in the rowing will be (supposing 
the coxswain sits still) the first cause of a roll in a boat, 
yet, once set in motion, that rolling is enhanced to a great 
extent by the helplessness of the coxswain. The oarsman 
can light himself and regain his balance from his oar, 
which serves him much as a balancing-pole does a rope- 
dancer. But the coxswain has no such support; he falls 
helplessly from side to side with each lurch, and without 
being to blame for the original mischief, makes bad to 
worse by his helplessness. But with the absence of a cox¬ 
swain this feature disappears. Unevenness may still exist 
in the rowing, but the roll thus commenced has no longer 
the same cause to exaggerate it, and to continue it after 
the primary mischief has come to an end. The four that 
carries no coxswain rights itself instantaneously after a 
lurch, and in less than half the time that a man takes to 
recover from a stroke, or to row one through, such a boat 
may roll and right itself again. The oarsmen who can 
“sit” the boat against a roll have also an easier task, for 
they have only themselves and the boat to balance, and 
have not an extra loose and helpless body that requires 
balancing of itself. Under these circumstances the form 
of the men rowing should be superior, especially in a raw 
crew, than when hampered with a coxswain. Besides this 
gain in steadiness, there should also be a gain in length of 
reach; or at least that tendency to get short, which is 
often painfully evident in a second-class tired four, carry¬ 
ing a heavy coxswain of 112 lbs. and upwards, should be 
obviated with the removal of the coxswain. Thus all¬ 
round rowing should improve ia a coxswainless four. If 
he is a good steersman he needs but seldom to look round, 
so far as the course itself is concerned, apart from ob¬ 
structions. 




44 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


STEERING APPARATUS. 

In steering a coxswainless four, the main difficulty consists 
not so much in the knowing how to steer, but in the choice 
of a suitable apparatus. Considering that scullers and 
pairs of the old fashion, with no steering appendage, used 
often to steer a course as good as that of eights or fours 
who had the advantage of a coxswain vis-a-vis to his des¬ 
tination, there should be no reason why a four should not, 
with the aid of a rudder, be steered as truly as pairs or 
sculling-boats. That such has not been the case as a rule 
must be ascribed to the apparatus used. 

Two apparatuses have been tried. One consisted of 
bars projecting from the stretcher, at right angles to it, on 
either side of one of the steerer’s feet! By pressing lat¬ 
erally against either of these he worked his rudder. An¬ 
other, brought out by J. H. Clasper, consisted of the same 
principle, but, instead of the foot lying loosely between the 
two bars, it was fitted into a shoe, which wus attached to 
the stretcher, and which, when moving laterally either 
way, Worked the rudder. Anybody may steer in a four 
except stroke. The best waterman, if not short-sighted, 
ought to have the task; bat as it is almost as easy from 
three or two as from bow seat, it is not worth while shift¬ 
ing a man forward in the boat out of his best place simply 
because he has to steer. In commencing pair oar practice, 
the great thing is not to row “jealous” of each other. The 
lighter the paddling the better—no attempt of the one to 
row the other round. The study should be to get the ac¬ 
tion homogeneous—the return of the arms and drop of 
wrists simultaneous—ear guiding as much as eye. The 
apparatus above recomended for four-oar steering will in 
a p>air still more surpass the other apparatuses alluded 
to, for the strength and evenness of action economised 
thereby must tell its tale still more when numbers arc re¬ 
duced. A well-fitted, thin metal rudder would not cause 
so much proportionate drag to a pair as to a sculler, and 
so would be almost always a gain. Only with a most even 
pair, on a dead, straight course, and with not a breath of 
wind, would the absence of rudder be a gain, and then but 
a small one. .At the same time it cannot be denied that 
the application of rudders to pairs and scullers, though, like 
Columbus’s egg, simple enough, once mooted, will go far 
to destroy that perfection of watermanship whicn formerly 
was found in first-class pair-oar rowing. If a man can 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


45 


steer with a rudder one partner well, he needs no practice, 
in steering at least, for a new partner. The strongest man 
of two equally goed watermen should steer. It matters 
not whether he rows stroke or bow. The old idea that 
bow ex officio should steer is a farce. If anything, stroke 
has more advantage for accuracy, for he can see the whole 
line of the canvas, so as to lay it on the steerage point. 
The weaker man being then the bow, the steerer has simply 
to row his hardest, and the stronger in the straight reaches 
adjusts the line of the boat from stroke to stroke, or even 
half-stioke to half-stroke, with his eyes ever on the stern- 
post. When there comes a corner too heavy for the 
.stronger to row round without a slacken from liis fellow, 
he must give his orders, and the one under order should 
remember that a single stroke rowed with strength con¬ 
trary to that desired by the steering man may lose lengths 
by throwing him out of all calculation, especially in round¬ 
ing 'a curve. There is nothing like partners who thor¬ 
oughly understand each other, never row excitedly, but al¬ 
ways-are on the alert each to perform his own share and 
to trust his partner to do his. 

W. B. Woodgate’s ideas of the proper dimensions so as 
to produce the best work are as follows: 

Dimensions of Work. 

# 

Schedule A .—Fixed Seals for Eight or Four. 


Length inboard - -- -- -- 3 6 

Length outboard -------9 0 

Total -------- 12 6 


Width of blade at top, 5J inches. 

Rowlock .—Height above seat, 8 inches. 

Distance of thowl from front edge of seat, 13 inches. 

N. B.—The distance is not measured as direct linear mea¬ 
sures —slanting from one to the other—but from the per¬ 
pendicular plane of the thowl to the perpendicular plane 
of the edge of the seat. 

Stretcher .—Length from top of stretcher to front edge of 
seat, 2 ft. 4in., for a six-foot man of ordinary make and 
shape. 






46 


THE MODERN OARSMAN. 


For each inch less or more stature add or subtract 
seven-eighteenths of an inch from the stretcher (rather 
more than one third). 

As an average measurement, it may be taken that the 
length of a man’s stretcher, from top of stretcher to 
seat, on a fixed seat, should be about seven-eighteenths of 
his entire hight. 

Slope of Stretcher should be about 5J inches, i. e., the 
heels should be 5^ inches nearer to the perpendicular plane 
of the front of the seat than the top of the stretcher is to 
the same. 


Schedule B. —For sliding seats. 

Oar. —Length inboard, 3 ft. 7| in. to 3 ft. 8 in., accord¬ 
ing to length of slide. 

Length outboard, 9 ft. 1\ in. 

Width of blade at top, 6 in. 

Bowloch. —Height above plane of seat, 7J to 7J in. 

Distance from slide when full forward, 9 to 9J in. 

Stretcher. —Length from front of slide full forward, to 
top of stretcher, 24 in. for a six-foot man. 

Slope of Stretcher , 6 in. 

The length of a sliding seat stretcher should be one- 
third of the entire height of the man. 

For a pair-oar , the height of rowlock and length of 
stretcher should be the same. The length of oar should 
be less. 

(Assuming that the beam of the boat, and length of 
iron of outriggers, are proportionately less than in an 
eight) the length of oar should be: inboard,'3 ft. 5| in.; 
outboard, 8 ft. 10 in.; width of blade, 5J in. 

The oar must, however, be to a great extent accommo¬ 
dated to the build of the pair. 

For a sculling-boat: width between outriggers, 5 ft. 

Length of scull inboard, 2 ft. 9 in.; outboard, 7 ft. 5 in. 

Width of blade, 5 in. for a 154 lbs. sculler. 

The other dimensions for sliding-seats, and height of 
rowlock, length of stretcher, and distance from work, 
should be the same as for a sculling-boat. A sculler of 
long reach may, however, with advantage place himself 
half an inch to an inch farther from his work than he could 
sit for rowing. 












JOSEPH KAYE. 

Erom a Photograph by Notman, Montreal, P. Q. 



DENNIS LEAKY. 

Erom a Photograph by Jordan, New York. 








BOATING RULES. 

GOVERNING OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNI¬ 
VERSITIES AND THE PRINCIPAL BOAT 

clubs in London. . 

1. All boat races stall be started in the following manner:—Th* 
starter, on being satisfied that the competitors are ready, shall give 
the signal to start. 

2. If the starter considers the start false he shall at once recall th^ 
boats to their stations, and any boat refusing to start again shall be 
disqualified. 

3. Any boat not at its post at the time specified shall be liable to 
~e disqualified by the umpire. 

4. The umpire may aet as starter as he thinks fit. When he does 
not act the starter shall be subject to his control. 

5. Each boat shall keep its own water throughout the race, and 
any boat departing from its own water will do so at its peril. 

6. A boat’s own water is its straight course, parallel with those of 
the other competing boats, from the station assigned to it at the 
Btarting to the finish. 

7. The umpire shall be sole judge of a boat’s own water and 
proper course during the race. 

8. No fouling whatever shall be allowed; the boat committing a 
foul shall be disqualified. 

9. It shall be considered a foul when, after the race has com¬ 
menced, any competitcr by his car, boat or person, comes into con¬ 
tact with the oar, boat or person of another competitor, unless in 
the opinion of the umpire such contact is so slight as not to influ¬ 
ence the race. 

10. The umpire may, during a race, caution any competitor when 
in danger of committing a foul. 
























48 


BOATING RULES. 

11. The umpire, when appealed to, shall decide all questions as to 

a foul. ' 

12. A claim of foul must be made to the judge or the umpire by 
the competitor himself before getting out of his boat. 

13. In case of a foul the umpire shall have the power; first, to 
place' the boats, except the boat committing the foul, which is dis¬ 
qualified, in the order in which they come in; second, to order the 
boats engaged in the race, other than the boat committing the foul, 
to row over again on the same or another day; third, to restart the 
qualified boats from the place where the foul was committed. 

14. Every boat shall abide by its accidents. 

15. No boats shall be allowed to accompany a competitor for the 
purpose of directing his course or affording him other assistance. 
The boat receiving such direction or assistance shall be disqualified 
at the discretion of the umpire. 

16. The jurisdiction of the umpire extends over the race and all 
matters connected with it from the time the race is specified to 
start until its final termination, and his decision in all cases shall 
be final and without appeal 

17. Any competitor refusing to abide by the decision or to follow 
the direction of the umpire shall be disqualified. 

18. The umpire, it he thinks proper, may reserve his decision, 
provided that in every case such decision be given on the day of 
the race. 

N. B. The above rules have % also governed the single sculling 
championship professional matches of England with occasional 
slight alterations, and were adopted at a meeting of representatives 
of twenty-three leading Amateur Boat Clubs, from various sections. 
of this country, held in New York City, Aug. 29th, 1872, with the 
exception of adding thereto the subjoined rules: 

19. Boats shall be started by their sterns, and shall have com¬ 
pleted their course when the bows reach the finish. 

20. In turning races each competitor shall have a separate turn¬ 
ing stake and shall turn from port to starboard. Any competitor 
mav turn any stake other than his own, but does so at his peril. 


THE AMATEUR DEFINITION 

AS ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AMATEUR OARS 

MEN. 

One who does not enter in an open competition, or for either a 
stake, public or admission money, or entrance fee; nor compete with 
or against a professional for any prize; who has never taught, pur¬ 
sued, or assisted in the pursuit of athletic exercises as a means of 
livelihood; whose membership of any rowing or other athletic club 
was not brought about or does not continue because of any mutual 
agreement or understanding, expressed or implied, whereby his be¬ 
coming or continuing a member of such club would be of any pecuni¬ 
ary benefit to him whatever, direct or indirect, and who has never 
been employed in any occupation involving any use of the oar and 
paddle. 



BOATING RULES. 


49 


RULES OF THE ROWING ASSOCIATION OF 
AMERICAN COLLEGES. 

1. Any boat not at its post at the time specified shall be liable to 
be disqualified by the umpire. 

2. AH races shall be started in the following manner: The starter 
shall ask the question, “Are you read 3 r ?”and receiving no reply, after 
waiting at least three Seconds, shall give the signal to start. 

3 If the umpire considers the start false, he shall at once recall the 
crews to their stations; and any boat refusing to start again shall be 
disqualified. 

4. A start shall be considered false if, during the first ten strokes, 
any of the competing boats shall be disabled by the breaking of an 
oar or any other accident. 

5 Each boat shall keep its own water throughout the race, and any 
boat departing from its own water shall be disqualified. 

6 A boat’s own water is its buoyed course from the station assigned 
to it at starting to the finish, and the umpire shall be sole judge of a 
boat’s deviation from its own water during the race. 

7. No fouling whatever shall be allowed; the boat committing the 
foul shall bo disqualified. 

8. I t shall be considered a foul when, after the race has commenced, 
any competitor, by his own oar, boat or person, comes into contact 
with the oar, boat or person of another competitor, unless, in the 
opinion of the umpire, such contact is so slight as not to influence 
the race. 

9. A claim of foul must be made, to the umpire by the competitor 
himself previous to his getting out of the boat. 

10. The umpire, when appealed to, but not before, shall decide all 
questions as to a foul. 

11. In the event of a foul, the umpire shall have the power: (A) To 
place the boats, except the boat committing the foul, which is disquali¬ 
fied, in the order in which they com j i a, provided that the f >uiedboat 
comes i i first, erthat the first boat had a sufficient lead at the time of 
the foul to warrant the race being assigned to it. (B) If the fouled 
boat does not come in first, or if unable to decide which boat is in 
error, to order such of the leading boats to row over again as in his 
opinion are entitled to another competition. 

12. Every boat shall abide by its accidents. 

13. In the event of a dead heat taking piace, the same crews shall 
contend again, or the crew or crews refusing shall be adjudged to 
have lost the race. 

14. No boat shall be allowed to accompany a competitor for the pur¬ 
pose of directing his course or affording him other assistance. Any 
boat receiving such direction or assistance shall be disqualified at the 
discretion of the umpire. 

15. The jurisdiction of the umpire extends over the race, and all 
matters connected with it, from ^he time the race is specified to start 
until its final termination, and his decision in all cases shall be final 
and without aopeal. 

16. Any competitor refusing to .abide by the decision, or to follow 
the directions of the umpire, shall be disqualified. 

17. Boats shall be started by their sterns, and shall have com¬ 
pleted their course when the bows reach the finish. 


IMPORTANT SCULLING MATCHES 

IN 

THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH PROVINCES 

I’ O R THE FAST THIRTY YEARS. 


Stephen Roberts rowed Sidney Dorlon five times, winning four; he 
also beat Robert Martin, Hudson River, 10 miles. Stephen 
Roberts is said to have beaten all opponents from his 18th to his 
35th year. No records kept. 

James Lee bt. Mike Conkling, off Battery, N. Y., $200, May, 1850. 

James Lee won first prize American Institute Fair Regatta, off Castle 
Garden, Sept., 1850. 

James Lee bt. William Decker, off Battery, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1850. 

James Lee bt. Charles Thomas, off Castle Garden, 3 miles, $200, 
May, 1851. 

William H. Decker bt. James Lee, off Castle Garden, N. Y., $900, 
July, 1851. Suit entered and stakes drawn. 

James Lee bt. Price, Hudson River, N. Y., $200, Aug., 1851. 

Charles Price won first prize American Institute Fair Regatta, off 
Castle Garden, N. Y., Sept., 1851. 

Charles Thomas bt. Price, off Castle Garden, 32:30, $200, Sept., 1851, 

Charles Thomas bt. Jas. Lee, off Castle Garden, 32:30, $200, Oct., ’51. 

Charles Thomas bt. Jas. Lee, off Castle Garden, 32m., $200, Oct., ’51. 

Thomas Daw bt. Thomas Bums, 8 miles, $200, Aug, 11, 1855. 

Thomas Burns bt. Decker, D. Hayes and Collins, Fort Hamilton, 
N. Y., Aug. 19. 1855. 

Andrew Fay bt. Stephen Roberts, Harlem River, N. Y., 5 miles, 
$50, Nov., 1855. 

Andrew Fay bt. Stephen Roberts, Harlem River, N. Y., 5 miles, 44:20, 
$200, Dec. 18, 1855. 

First shell in this country built by James McKay, and launched June 
4, 1856, Wi.liamsburg, L. I. 

Thomas Burns took first prize, Staten Island Regatta, Sept. 16, 1857, 

Thomas Daw bt, William Glen, 5 miles, 43:06, $1,000, Philadelphia 
Pa., Oct. 28, 1857. 

John Hancon won first prize, Newburg (N. Y.) Regatta, July 4, 1858. 

Andrew Fay won first prize, Staten Island iN. Y.) Regatta, Aug., 1858. 

J. H. Seymour won first prize, Springfield (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
16:10, Aug. 27, 1858. 

Josh Wardbt. John Hancon, Newburg. 2 miles, 16:07, Oct. 15, 1858. 

T. Grover won first prize, Worcester (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 16:20 
July 5, 1859. 

John Hancon won first prize, Staten Island (N, Y.) Regatta, 
Aug. 15, 1859. 6 ’ 




JOSEPH H. SADLER 
From a Photograph by Notman, Halifax, N. S. 






GIL WAKD. 

From a Photograph by O’Neil, New York. 



BEKNABD BIGLIN. 

Prom a Photograph by Notman, Montreal, P. Q. 








RECORD OF SCULLING MATCHES. 


51 


Josh Ward bt. Walter Brown, Hancon and Grover, Newburg, N. Y., 
5 miles, $100, Sept. 20, 1859. 

Andrew Fay bt. Tom Daw, Staten Island, 5 miles, 39m., $1,000, 
Sept. 29, 1859. 

John Hancon won first prize, Albany (N. Y.) Regatta, 3 miles, 26:17, 
Sept , 1859. 

Josh Ward won champion belt, beating John Hancon. Andrew 
Fay, and Thomas Daw, Staten Island, N. Y., 5 miles, 35:10, 
Oct. 11, 1859. 

Josh Ward won first prize, Boston (Mass.) Regatta, 3 miles, 23:16, 
$200, Oct. 25, 1859. 

Josh Ward won first prize, Worcester (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
15:17£, July 25, 1860. 

Denny Le*ary won first prize, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 5 miles, 48:26, 
Sept. 5, 1860. 

Andrew Fay won first prize, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 5 miles, 39:15, 
Sept. 6, 1860 

Josh Ward won first prize, Albany (N. Y.) Regatta, Oct. 11, 1860. 

Josh War'd bt. William Burger, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 10 miles, 83m., 
$500, Nov. 5, 1860. 

Andrew Fay bt. William Decker, Jersey City, N. J., 4 miles, $400 
Nov. 23, 1860. 

William Stevens bt. J. Biglin, Poughkeepsie, 5 miles, 38:45, $200, 
Sept. 24, 1861. 

John Biglin bt. John McGrady, Harlem River, N. Y., 5 miles, 39:47, 
$400, Oct. 3, 1861. 

James Hamill bt. Wm. Campbell, Pittsburg, Pa., 3 miles, 24:50, 
$50, Oct. 5, 1861. * 

James Hamill bt. Josh Ward, Philadelphia, Pa., 3 miles, 37:39, 
$500, Aug. 13, 1862. 

James Hamill won first prize, Beacon Cup, Boston (Mass.) Regatta, 
2 miles, l8:05i|, June 20, 1863. 

Josh Ward bt. James Hamill, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 5 miles, 42:29, 
$1,000, July 23, 1863. 

James Hamill bt. Josh Ward, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 5 miles, 37:38, 
$1,000, Sept. 28, 1863. 

William Stevens bt. Gjl Ward, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 5 miles, 39:53, 
$400, Oct. 28, 1863. 

James Hamill bt. Josh Ward, Pittsburg, Pa., 5 miles, 40:46, $1,000, 
July 19, 1864. 

J. H. Radford won first prize, Worcester (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
10:36, July 30, 1864. 

Josh Ward bt. William Stevens, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 5 miles, 38:13, 
$1,000, Sept. 20, 1864. 

John Biglin bt. W. H. Hayes, Staten Island, 5 miles, 41:12, $1,000, 
Nov. 9, 1864. 

John Mekeel bt. Gil Ward, Sing Sing, N. Y., 5 miles, 41m., $250, 
July 10, 1866. 

Walter Biown bt. Josh Ward, Portland, Me., 3 miles, 22:30, $2,000, 
Sept. 18, 1866. 

Josh Ward won first prize, Springfield (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
15:59, Sept. 20, 1866. 

Walter Brown bt. Josh Ward, Worcester (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
15:15, Sept. 27, 1866 

John Biglin bt. J. McGrady, Hoboken, N. J., 5 miles, 39:40, $500, 
Nov., 1866. 


52 


RECORD OF SCULLING MATCHES. 


William Stevens bt. Gil Ward, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 5 miles, 38:39, 
$300, Nov. 1. 1866. 

Walter Brown bt. James Hamill, Pittsburg, Pa., 5 miles, $2,000, 
May 21, 1867. 

Walter Brown pulled 3 miles against time, 23m., Worcester (Mass.), 
July 19, 1867. 

John Mekeel won first prize, Worcester (Mass.) Regatta, July 19, ’67. 

James Hamill bt. Walter Brown, Newburg, N. Y., 5 miles, $2,000, 
Sept. 9, 1867. 

Henry Coulter bt. John Mekeel, Pittsburg, Pa., 5 miles, 41:50, 
$2,000, Oct. 30, 1867. 

John Tyler Jr. won gold medal, Charles River Championship, Boston, 
Mass., 2 miles, 15:31, May 22, 1868. 

John Tyler Jr. bt. Walter Brown, Phila., Pa., 3 miles, June 18, 1868. 

James Hamill bt. H. Coulter, Phila., Pa., 5 miles, $2,000, June 19, ’68. 

John Tyler Jr. bt. Walter Brown, Hudson River, N. Y., 2 miles, 
June 24, 1868. 

Charles Ward bt. J. T. Raymond, Sing Sing, N. Y., 5 miles, $500, 
July, 1868. 

John Tyler Jr. bt. John Mekeel, Worcester, Mass., 2 miles, 14:52, 
$1,000, July 24, 1868. 

George Brown won championship of Halifax, N. S., 2 \ miles, 23:22, 
Aug. 1, 1868. 

R. W. Hayes won championship, Toronto, C. W., 2 miles, 15:08, 
Aug. 22, 1868. 

Walter Brown bt. H. Coulter, Pittsburg, Pa., less than 5 miles, 34:28J, 
$2,000, Sept. 9, 18G8. 

John Mekeel bt, O’Neil, Newburg, N. Y., 2 miles, 15:51, Oct. 21, ’68. 

John Mekeel bt, J. Biglin, B. Biglin, J. Blue and W. H. Hayes, Hud¬ 
son River, N. Y., 3 miles, Nov. 25, 1868. 

Walter Brown won gold medal, Boston, Mass., 2 miles, 16:48, 
June 15, 1869. 

Walter Brown won first prize, Boston, Mass., 2 miles, 17:14, 
June 17, 1869. 

James Hamill and Henry Coulter, Pittsburg, Pa., 5 miles, $1,000, 
draw, Aug. 7, 1869. 

Henry Coulter bt. James Hamill, Pittsburg, Pa., 5 miles, 37:51 
$2,000, Aug. 19, 1869. 

Wm. Scharff bt. Wm. Stein, Pittsburg, Pa., 3 miles, 25:07, July 3, ’69. 

John Biglin bt. Fred Smzer, Hudson River, N. Y., 5 miles, 46m., 
July 12, 1869. 

John Biue bt. Fred Sinzer, Hudson River, N. Y., 5 miles, July 18, ’69. 

Walter Bro vn won first prize, Lachme, Canada, 2 miles, July 24, : 69 

Wm. H. Hayes won flag, Ned James’ Regatta, East River, N. Y., 
3 miles, Aug. 28, 1869. 

Henry Coulter won first prize, Meadville, Pa., Sept. 3. 1869. 

Wm. Scharff bt. Jos. Scott, Pittsburg, Pa., 1 mile, Sept. 18, 1869. 

James Hamill won first prize, Louisville, Ky., 3 miles. 24:20, 
Sept. 24, 1869. 

Thomas C. Butler won first prize, Boston (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
15:41, June 17, 1870. 

J. J. O’Leary won first prize, Worcester (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
16:11July 23, 1870. 

Wm. Scharff bt. H. Best, Pittsburg, Pa., 5 miles, Aug. 5, 1870. 

Robert Berry bt. T. Loudon, championship of Toronto/Ont., 2 miles, 
Aug. 13, 1870. 


RECORD OF SCULLING MATCHES. 


53 


Ellis "Ward won first prize, M. R. C. Regatta, East River, N. Y., 
Aug. 20, 1870. 

John Mekeel bt. Thomas C. Butler, Boston, Mass., 3 miles, 22:51, 
$500, Aug. 21, 1870. 

T. C. Butler bt. J. A. Landers, Lowell, Mass., 2 miles, 16:05, $500, 
Aug. 24, 1870. 

Geo. Lovatt won championship of Halifax, N. S., Sept. 1, 1870 

Wm. Scharff won single scull race, Pittsburg (Pa.) Regatta, 3 miles, 
24:40, Sept. 3, 1870. 

John Biglin and John Blue, Empire City Regatta, Harlem River, 
4 miles, 32m. (dead heat), Sept. 6, 1870. 

Ellis Ward won first prize at Bergen Point (N. J.) Regatta, 3 miles, 
23:36, $100, Sept. 10, 1870. 

J. J. O’Leary bt. P. Harrington, "\Vorcester, Mass., 3 miles (short), 
22:05, Sept. 14, 1870. 

Ed. Murphy bt. James Ten Eyck, Cornwall, N. Y., 3 miles, $200, 
Oct. 5,1870. 

J. J. O’Leary bt. J. A. Landers, Worcester, Mass., 3 miles (short), 
22:16, $500, Nov. 3, 1870. 

T. C. Butler won championship medal, Boston, Mass., June 17, 1871. 

Ellis Ward won first prize, Newburg, N. Y., 4 miles, 31:55, 
July 5, 1871. 

Eph Morris bt. Rooney Miller, Pittsburg, Pa., 3 miles, 24m., 
$600, July 15, 1871. 

W. B. Curtis won gold medal, N. Y. Athletic Club Regatta, Har¬ 
lem River, N. Y., 2 miles, 14m., July 29, 1871. 

Belyea bt. Brayley, St. John, N. B., 3 miles, 24m , Aug. 17, 1871. 

Joseph H. Sadler won first prize, International Regatta, Halifax, 
N. S., 3 miles, 25:03, Sept. 1, 1S71. 

Joseph H. Sadler won first prize, International Regatta, Saratoga, 
N. Y., 4 miles, 30:33, $1,000 Sept. 11, 1871- 

Harry Kelley won first prize, $1,000, Quebec, Dominion of Canada, 
Sept. 20, 1871. 

Amelia Shea won first prize, Empire City Regatta. Harlem River, 
N. Y., 2 miles, 18:32, women’s race, Sept. 25, 1871. 

John Biglin won first prize, Empire City Regatta, Harlem River, 4 
miles, 31:59, Sept. 25, 1871. 

C. E. Courtney bt. Jack Elseffer, Ithaca, N. Y., 19:51, May 11, 1872. 

Wm. Scharff bt. '1'. C. Butler, Phila., Pa.. 5 miles, $1,000, June. 7, ’72. 

M. E. Davis won geld medal, Portland, Me., 2 miles, 16:37, 
June 12, 1872. 

Ellis Ward bt. J. J. O’Leary, Worcester, Mass., 3 miles (?), 21:30, 
$1,000, June 26, 1872. 

Robert Berry bt. Hemy Coulter, Buffalo, N. Y., rowing against time, 
3 miles, 23£m., July 8, 1872. 

J. O’Neil won first prize, Worcester, Mass., 2 miles, 15:45, July 19, ’72. 

R. Berry won first prize, Lachine (C. E ) Regatta, Aug. 17, 1872. 

John Biglin bt. Ellis Ward, Nyack, N. Y., 5 miles, 39:05, $1,000, 
Sept. 19, 1872. 

J. McCready bt. Wm. B. Curtis, gold medal, Harlem River, N. Y., 

2 miles, Sept 21, 1872. 

Fred Wolf won first prize, Cincinnati (Ohio) Regatta, Sept. 27, 1872. 

W. B. Curtis bt. J. McCready, gold medal, N. Y. City, 2 miles, 17:10, 
Oct. 16, 1872. 

James Ten Eyck bt. Gil Ward and J. T. Raymond, Peekskill, N. Y., 

3 miles, .24:25, Oct. 23, 1872. 


54 EECOIiD OP SCULLING MATCHES. 

Wm. B. Curtis won champion, medal, Harlem River, N. Y., 2 miles, 
14:29, May 9, 1873. 

T. C. Butler won champion medal, Boston, Mass., May 16, 1873. 

James Ten Eyck bt. Gil Ward, Mughag’s Lake, N. Y., 2 miles, 20:12, 
$100, June 4, 1873. 

Eph Morris bt. T. C. Butler, Lowell (Mass.) Regatta, 2 miles, 15:10, 
July 9, 1873. 

Wallace Ross bt. John Harding, St. John, N. B., July 10, 1873. 

John Biglin bt. Ellis Ward, Springfield, Mass., 5 miles, $1,000, 
July 15, 1873. 

Robert Fulton won first prize, St. John (N. B.) Regatta, Aug. 21,1873. 

Chas. E. Courtney won first piize, Saratoga (N. Y.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
14:15, Sept. 11, 1873. 

Geo. Brown bt. John Biglin, Halifax, N. S., 5 miles, 38:45, $2,000, 
Sept. 24, 1873. 

Wm. B. Curtis rowed 50 miles, Chicago, HI., lOh. 11m. 55s., 
April 25, 1874. 

F. A. Plaisted won first prize, Boston, Mass., 1 mile, May 8, 1874. 

T. C. Butler won first prize, West End Regatta, Boston, Mass., 2 miles, 
16:05, June 17, 1874. 

James Ten Eyck bt. Wm. ScharfF, Peekskill, N. Y., 3 miles, 25m., 
$1,000, June 25, 1874. 

M. F. Davis won first prize, Portland (Me.) Regatta, 2 miles, 15:37, 
July 4, 1874. 

Geo. Brown bt. Wm. Scharff, Springfield, Mass., 5 miles, $4,000, 
July 8, 1874. 

Fred A. Plaisted bt. Michael Ahearn, Boston, Mass., 5 miles, $200, 
July 16, 1874. 

James Ten Eyck bt. O. Dyckman, Peekskill, N. Y., 3 miles, 28:50, 
Aug. 1,1874. 

Alex. Brayley won first prize, St. Stephens (N. B.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
15:08, Aug. 4, 1874. 

J. A. Ten Eyck won first prize, Rockaway (L. I.) Regatta, Aug. 9, ’74. 

John Brown won first prize, Worcester (Mass.) Regatta, 2 mile#, 
15:01i Aug. 19, 1874. 

Wallace Ross won first prize, St. John (N. B.) Regatta, Aug. 21, 74. 

Chas. E. Courtney won first prize, Saratoga (N. Y.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
14:44, Aug. 28, 1874. 

Eph Morris bt. H. Coulter, Hulton, Pa., .5 miles, 37:03, $1,000, 
Sept.' 11, 1874. 

C. E. Courtney won first prize, Owasco Lake Regatta, Auburn, 
N. Y., Sept. 14, 1874. 

J. A. Landers won first prize, Sebago Lake, Me., 3 miles, 19:32, 
Sept. 16, 1874. 

Geo. Browmbt. Eph Morris, St. John, N. B., 5 miles, 37m., $4,000, 
Sept. 26, 1874. 

John Biglin bt. J. Ten Eyck, Nyack, N. Y., 3 miles, about 23m., 
$1 000, Oct. 9, 1874. 

Fred A. Plaisted bt. T. C. Butler, Boston, Mass., 2 miles, 14:46|, 
$250, Oct. 10, 1874. 

Eph Morris bt. H. Coulter, Hulton, Pa , 5 miles, $1,000, Oct. 16, 74. 

Chas. E. Courtney won first prize, Saratoga (N. Y.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
13:39£, Aug., 1875. 

John Brown won championship of Halifax, N. S., 3 miles, Aug. 2, 75. 

A. Brayley bt. P McNulty, St. John, N. B., 3 miles, 25:20, $400, 
Aug. 12, 1875. 


ROBERT CHAMBERS. 

From a Photograph taken in Newcastle, England. 











I 


JAMES RENFORTH. ROBERT FULTON. 







RECORD OF SCULLING MATCHES. 55 

Ed. Hanlan bt. T. Loudon, Ontario championship, Toronto, $200, 
Aug. 20, 1875. 

A. Bray ley bt. Landers, St. Stephens, N. B., 3 miles, Aug. 23, 1875. 

M. F. Davis bt. F. A. Plaisted, Boston, Mass., 3 miles, 22:15, 
Aug. 24, 1875. 

M. F. Davis bt. F. A. Plaisted, Portland, Me., 3 miles, S^pt. 1, 1875. 

M. F. Davis bt. J. J. O Leary, Portland, Me., 3 miles, 23m., $500, 
Sept. 15, 1875. 

Geo. Englehart bt. James O’Neil, Saratoga Lake, N. Y., 3 miles, 
22:224, $2,000, Sept. 23. 1875. 

A. Brayley bt. J. Brown, Halifax, N.-S., 3 miles, $300, Sept. 24, 1875. 

Ellis Ward bt. Frank Kils by, Seneca Lake, N. Y., 2 miles, 15:28, 
$1,000, Oct. 8, 1875. 

W. Ross won first prize, Portland Harbor, May 24, 1876. 

Wallace Ross bt. A. Brayley, St. John, N. B., 5 miles, 41:031, $400, 
June 15, 1876. 

T. C. Butler won first prize, West End Regatta, Boston, Mass., 16m., 
June 17, 1876. 

Warren Smith won first prize, Halifax, N. S., 3 miles, 23m., 
Aug. 7, 1876. 

James Kiley won first prize, Saratoga (N. Y.) Regatta, 2 miles, 13:21*, 
Aug. 9, 1876. 

Ed. Hanlan won first prize, Toronto (Ont.) Regatta, 2 miles, 
Aug. 12, 1876. 

A. T. S ewart bt. T. C. Butler, Sebago Lake, Me., 2 miles, 17:36, 
Aug. 16, 1876. 

Ed. Hanlan won Centennial Regatta prize, Philadelphia, Pa., 3 miles, 
21:094, Sept. 4, 1876. 

Wallace Ross bt. Alex. Brayley, St. John, N. B., 3 4 miles, $200, 
Oct. 19, 1876. 

Wallace Ross bt. Fred A. Plaisted, St. John, N. B., 3J miles, 27:07|, 
$1,000, June 6, ’77. 

Eph Morris bt. Wm. Scharff, Pittsburg, Pa., 5 miles, 36:45, $2,000, 
June 9, 1877. 

J. Hanlan bt. J. Adair, 2 miles, $100, Toronto Bay, Ont., June 8, ’77. 

Ed. Hanlan won first prize, Silver Lake (Mass.) Regatta, 3 miles, 
21:414, June 25, 1877. 

M. F. Davis bt. Geo. Faulkner, Boston, Mass., 3 miles, 22:58*, $1,000, 
June 27, 1877. 

P. Reagan bt. J. A. Landers, Boston, Mass., 3 miles, 22:531, $2,000, 
Juue 29, 1877. 

Wallace Ross bt. Warren Smith, St. John, N. B., 3 miles, 26m., 
July 25. 1877. 

Chas. E. Courtney bt. Riley and Plaisted, Saratoga, N. Y., 3 miles, 
20:47*, Aug. 28, 1877. 

C. E. Courtney won first prize, Owasco Lake (N. Y.) Resrattr, 
3 miles, 21:29*, Sept. 27, 1877. 

Eph Morris bt. Patrick Luther, Hulton, Pa., 5 miles, 37m., $2,000, 
Oct. 13, 1877. 

M. F. Davis bt. Jas. Ten Eyck, Peekskill, N. Y., 3 miles, 22:29, 
$600, Oct. 13, 1877. 

Edward Hanlan bt. Wallace Ross, Toronto, $2,000, Oct. 15, 1877. 

Chas. E. Courtnev won first prize, Owego Lake Regatta, 3 miles, 
20:14*, Oct. 17, 1877. . 

M. F. Davis bt. George Hosmer, $1,000, Boston, Mass., 3 miles, 
23:04, Nov. 27, 1877. 


56 


RECORD OF SCULLING MATCHES. 


BOSTON REGATTA WINNERS. 

DISTANCE-TWO MILES, TURN. 


1858 — Thomas Doyle, 19m. 29s. 

1859— R. F. Clark, 14m. 53s. 

1860— M. S. Smith, 14m. 2£s. 

1861 — Josh Ward, 13m. 53s. 

1862— James Hamtt.l , 16m. 15|s. 
1883— James Hamill, 15m. 5s. 

1864— J. H. Radford, 20m. 23 s. 

1865— James Hamill, 18m. 28s. 

1866— Walter Brown, 17m. 10s. 

1867— John Mekeel, 16m. 73s. 


1868— Walter Brown, 15m. 35s. 

1869— Walter Brown, 15m. 24s. 

1870— Walter Brown, 15m. 48s. 

1871— T. C. Butler, 15m. 55 js. 

1872— J. A. Ten Eyck, 15m. 161s. 

1873— Eph Morris, 14m. 461s. 

1874— John A Landers, 15m. 141s. 

1875— John Biglin, 16m. Is. 

1876 — John A. Landers, 15m. 12s. 

1877— Fred A. Plaisted, 14m. 24s. 


IMPORTANT SCULLING MATCHES 

IN 

EffiLAH© AH© AUSTRALIA, 

FKOM 1831 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 


In contests where no places are designated , the matches took place on the 
Thames Champion Course, distance four miles three furlongs. 


C. Campbell bt. Williams, Sept. 9, 1831. 

Robert Coombes bt. C. Campbell, 26:!5, Aug. 19, 1846. 

Thomas Cole bt. R. Coomb s, 25:15, May 24, 1852. 

James Messenger bt. T. Cole, 24:25, Nov. 20, 1854. 

Robert Chambers won Thames National Regatta, 1856. 

Robert Chambers won Thames National Regatta, 1858. 

Robert Chambers bt. Tom White, Tyne, Appil 19, 1859. 

Robert Chambers bt. Tom White, Sept., 1860. 

George Drewitt bt. Harry Clasper, Tyne, 22:32, £200, April 24, 1860. 
Harry Kelley bt. J. Messenger, 24:30, May 12, 1857. 

Richard Green bt. Thomas McGrath, Port Jackson, Australia, 26:30, 
£ .00, Aug. 9, 1859. 

Robert Chambers bt. H. Kelley, 25:25, Sept. 29, 1859. 

Henry Clasper bt. R. Clandish, Tyne, Sept. 27, 1860. 

William Lumley bt. Wm. Taylor, Tyne, Sept. 27, 1860. 

R. Cooper bt. G. Strong, Tyne, Sept. 27, I860. 

G. Hammerton bt. G. Drewitt, 24:25, £100, Nov. 14, 1860. 

J. H. Clasper bt. G. Drewitt, Tyne, £400, May, 1862. 







RECORD OP SCULLING MATCHES. 57 

Frank Eilsby bt. W. Spencer, Thames (short), 23:05, Sept. 22, 1862. 
Frank Eilsby bt. W. Spencer, 27:29, Nov. 10, 1862 
Tom Eing (pugilist), bt. E. May, Thames Course (short), 27:1C, £50, 
Nov. 4, 1864. 

David Coombes bt. Frank Eilsby, 25:16, £200, Dec., 1864. 

George Drewitt bt. John MacEinney, 26:10, £100, Dec. 28, 1864. 

Tom Eing bt Percy, £100, Jan. 26, 1865. 

Harry Eelley bt. R. Chambers, 23:26, Aug. 8, 1865. 

Harry Eelley bt. James Hamill (American), Tyne, 5 miles, £500, 
July 4, 1866. 

Harry Eelley bt. James Hamill, Tyne, 5 miles, 36m., £500, 
July 5, 1866. 

R. Chambers bt. Joseph Sadler, 25:04 (?), Nov. 22, 1866. 

H. Eelley bt. R. Chambers, Tyne, 31:47, May 6, 1867. 

Harry Eelley bt. R. Chambers, Tyne, 4£ miles, 31:49£, £400, 
May 6, 1867. 

Harry Eelley and J. H. Sadler, £600 (foull, Nov. 27, ordered to row 
Nov. 28, 1867; Eelley rowed over the course alone. 

W. Sadler bt. J. Biffin, £100 (foul), Feb. 11, 1868. 

James Renforth bt. J. Bright, Tyne, 2 miles, 13:22, March 28, 1868. 
James Renforth won Thames Regatta, £90, Aug. 4, 1868. 

James Renforth bt. H. Eelley, £400, Nov. 7, 186s. 

James Renforth bt. H. Eelley, 23:15, Nov. 17, 1868. 

Harry Eelley bt. J H. Sadler, 23m., £400, Dec. 1, 1868. 

Mark Addy bt. W. Sadler, £200, March 15, 1869. 

Robert Cooper bt. J. Taylor, Tyne, £100, April 12, 1869. 

James Renforth won Thames Regatta, 24:01, Aug., 1869. 

Walter Brown (American) bt. W. Sadler, Tyne, £100, Nov. 19, 1869. 
William Sadler bt J. Heath, £100, M:rchl, 1870. 

Harry Eelley bt. J. Bright, Tyne, 28:30, £400, May 2, 1870. 

John Winship bt. R. Hepplewhite, Tyne, £100, May 21, 1870. 
Michael Rush bt. Hickey, Sydney, Australia, May 21, 1870. 

J. H. Sadler bt. Harry Eelley, 24:07*, £400, July 14, 1870. 

Stephen Wright bt. William Sadler, Kings Lynn, £100, July 27, 1870. 
J. H. Sadler won Thames championship, Aug. 15, 1870, 

William Hickey bt. M. Rush, Sydney, Australia, 25:03, £400, 
Nov. 19, 1870. 

Robert Bagnall bt. Ralph Hepplewhite, Tyne, £50, May 1, 1871. 
Robert Bagnall bt. Mark Addy, 29:55, £100, May, 1872. 

Thomas Winship bt W. Biffin, 29.40, £100, May 7, 1872. 

R. Bagnall bt. M. Addy, 2 miles, £100, Nov. 4, 1872. 

M. Rush bt. Wm. Hickey, Sydney, Australia, £200, Feb. 15, 1873. 
Thomas Winship bt. J. Lally, Tyne, £200, March 10, 1873. 

Alexander Hogarth bt. R. W. Boyd, Weir, £50. July 23, 1873. 

Harry Eelley bt. J. Taylor, Tyne, 3 miles, 29:03, £400. July 28, 1873. 
Alex. Hogarth bt R. W. Boyd, Weir, £50, Aug. 4, 1873. 

Robert Bagnsll bt. H. Eelley, Tyne, 3 miles 713 yds., 27:18, £400, 
Aug. 11, 1873. 

Franh Eilsby bt. W. Sadler, 25:42, £50, Dec. 5, 1873. 

Joseph H. Sadler bt. R. Bagnall, 24:15, £400 April 16. 1874. 

Ralph Hepplewhite bt. A. Hogarth, Tyne, £80, July 27, 1874. 

Frank Eilsby bt. W. Sadler, £50, Nov. 9, 1874. 

Joseph H. Sadler bt. R. W. Boyd, 28:35, $400, Nov. 15, 1874. 

Ralph Heoplewhite bt. T. Wirfship, Tyne, 3£ miles, £200, 
March 8, 1875. 

Robert Bagnall bt. W. Lumsden, Tyne, 35 m., £200, March-9, 1875. 


58 


RECORD OF SCULLING MATCHES. 


Robert Watson Boyd bt J. H. Sadler, Tyne, 1 mile, 6*104, £200, 
March 22, 1875. 

William Lumsden bt. A. Strong, Walney * Channel, 2| m. 14:15 3-5 
£200, May 13, 1875. 

John Higgins bt. C. Brian, £200, Oct. 2, 1875. 

John Higgins bt. A. Strong, £200, 23:05, Oct. 19, 1875 
Thomas Green bt. R. Hepplewhite, £200, Nov, 3, 1875. 

William Lumsden bt. R. Bagnall, Tyne, 3miles, 24.334, £200, 
May 9, 1876. 

Henry Thomas bt. T. Winship, 24*35, £200, June 19, 1876. 

Edward Trickett bt. J. H. Sadler. £400, June 27, 1876. 

R W. Boyd bt. J. H. Sadler, 23:27, £200, Oct. 7, 1876 
R. W. Boyd won first prize, Thames Rogatta, Nov. 4, 1876. 

R. W. Boyd won Tyne Challenge Cup, March, 1877. • 

Thomas Blackman bt. W. Lumsden, Tyne, 34 miles, 26:20, £200, 
April 16, 1877. 

John Bright bt. R. Cooper, Tyne, 34 miles, 26:03, £100, April 17, ’77. 
Thomas Green bt. R. Hepplewhite, £200, May 14, 1877. 

R. W. Boyd bt. J. Higgins, 28:24, May, 1877. 

J. Higgins bt. Thos. Blackman, £200, June 11, 1877. 

Edward Trickett bt. M. Rush, Sydney, Australia, 3£ miles, £400, 
23:26, June 30. 1877. 

R. W. Boyd won first prize, Thames Regatta, July, 1877. 

George Tarryer bt. C. Brian, 22:55, £200, Aug. 13, 1877. 

J. Higgins bt. R. W. Boyd, 24:10, Oct., 1877. 

J. H. Sadler bt. H. Kelley, 24:03, £200, Nov. 5, 1877. 

J. Higgins bt. R. W. Boyd. Tyne, £400, Jan. 14, 1878. 

W. Elliott bt. R. Bagnall, Tyne, 30:05, £100, Jan. 15, 1878. 














JAMES TAYLOR. THOMAS WTNSHTP. 




# 












ELIJAH BOSS. GEO. PRICE. 






0 ®" A BOOK FOR EVERYBODY! 




HOW TO ACQUIRE 

HEALTH, 

STEENGTH, 

AND MU SCLE! 
Compiled by E3D. JAMES. Price Fifty Cents. 

A brief synopsis of the all-important subjects which this useful book 
contains will be sufficient endorsement of its merits. 

Relating to the vital matter of Health will be found articles on the 
following: When and how to Exercise, Teeth, Mouth, Lungs (howto 
test, protect and strengthen them), Clothing, Philosophy of Eating 
(showing actions of different kinds of diet in certain persons), Pro¬ 
tection for the Throat, etc., Dietary Peculiarities, Effects of Alcohol and 
Stimulants, about Smoking, Chewing and Snuffing, Tables of Compara¬ 
tive Nutrition and Digestion, Medicinal Use of Salt, Exercise and Food 
for the Brain, Care of the Eyes, Effects of vitiated Atmosphere, Twelve 
Ways of destroying Health, How to go to Sleep, Good Company and 
Digestion, about Drinks and Perspiration, What a man carries up¬ 
stairs, Treatment of the Free Liver, Rebuilding those broken down by 
Literary and Sedentary Pursuits, Advantages of Pedestrianism, Differ¬ 
ent modes of Walking, Interesting Physiological Facts, Proportions of 
a perfect Human Figure, Causes of Left-handedness. Remedies for 
the following: Rheumatism, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Cholera, Th.oat 
Affections, Dyspepsia, Consumption, Fever and Ague, Stings and Bites, 
Lockjaw, Toothache, Headache, Earache, Foetid Breath, Black-eye, 
Styes, Catarrh, Piles, Sunstroke, Mortification, Coughs, Colds, Hic¬ 
coughs, Prickly Heat, Warts, Burns, Corns, Biliousness, Erysipelas, 
Dandruff, Freckles, Fever Sores, Neutralization of Poisons, Deranged 
Stomach, etc., etc. 

The department devoted to the attainment of Strength treats upon: 
Dr. G. B. Winship’s and R. A. Pennell’s Methods of gaining Strength, 
Comparative Strength of different Nations, Remarkable Feats of Mus¬ 
cular Strength, as performed by Milo, Captain Barclay, Eckeberg (the 
German Samson), Topham, McGregor, R. A. Pennell, John M. Cannon, 
W. B. Curtis, Ambrose A. Butts, John J. Lucas, Dr. G. B. Winship, 
John Vail, Fred. Canfield, Mons. Gregoire, Mons. Paul, D’Omer, Tom 
Hyer, Mons. Buisley, Mons. La Thorne, Mile. Cora, Prof. Harrison, 
Fred. Cavill, Capt. Webb, Pennoek, David Dorian, William Miller, 
Patrick Kelly, etc., etc. 

For the guidance of'all desiring to become muscular, as well as 
healthy, the chapters on the development of. Muscle are all which 
could be desired, to wit: Composition of Muscle, Heavy and Light 
Dumb-bell Practice, Mental and Physical Benefits and Practical Results 
of Gymnastics, Advice to Gymnasts, Different Exercises for Youth and 
Age, Description of the Muscular System, Measurements of prominent 
Athletes, including John C. Heenan, Jacob H. Martin, William Ed¬ 
wards, James H. McLaughlin, John R. Judd, Thiebaut Bauer, Harry 
Hill, Walter Brown, Henry E. Buermeyer, Richard A. Pennell, John J. 
Dwyer, Charles E. Courtney, Thomas Allen, William Miller, Arthur 
Chambers, etc. Published and for Sale by 

ED. JAMES (Clipper Building), 88 & 90 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK. 

J 5 &- The titles and prices of Mr. James’ other publications are: 
“Practical Training,” 50c.; “Manual op Sporting Rules,” 50c.; 
“The Game Cock,” $1.25; “Terrier Dogs, etc.,” $1. 

N. B.— Where Fractional Currency cannot be obtained, Z7. S. Postage 
Stamps may be forwarded in amounts less than one dollar. 







COMPLIMENTARY PRESS NOTICES 


ABOUT 



From a number of very lengthy and elaborate criticisms of the 
press in various sections -of the United States we give the following 
extracts: 

“ Here we have in condensed form a vast amount of valuable in¬ 
formation upon a subject which should deeply interest everybody, 
the substance of numerous other foreign and domestic publications 
on like subjects mingling with impressions and advice bom of the 
author’s observation and practical experience. A treatise on the 
muscular system, tables showing the correct measurements of noted 
athletes and proportions of a perfect human figure, with remarkable 
feats of strength, etc., are also given. It is written in language clear 
to the understanding, and is a work which we can cheerfully recom¬ 
mend all to read, confident that no one can peruse it without profit 
to themselves.”—NEW YORK CLIPPER. 

“ The many interesting facts and hints contained in this ably com¬ 
piled work will immensely benefit everyone, it giving the cream 
of the best authorities upon everything concerned in its title/’— 
PHILADELPHIA SUNDAY MERCURY. 

“A compendium of useful information.”—N. Y. SUN. 

“Should be in the hands of all our athletes.”—YONKERS (N. Y.) 
GAZETTE. 

“Richly deserving of perusal. The work is not intended for pro¬ 
fessional athletes exclusively, but for all who desire to enjoy perfect 
physical health, which can only be acquired and retained by a proper 
regard for the laws of nature. Mr. James thoroughly understands 
the subjects of which he writes, and presents them in a straightfor¬ 
ward, attractive manner. The book deserves to be widely read, and 
its teachings, if followed, will do more than doctors’ prescriptions 
toward preserving healta.”—NEW YORK HERALD. 

“ It is filled with useful hints and practical suggestions.”—UTICA 
(N. Y.) OBSERVER. 

“Of incalculable benefit to the health of many who are suffering 
from a lack of physical training.” —WASHINGTON SUNDAY 
HERALD. 

“Mr. James is authority in matters which this volume treats upon. 
He has here given a plain, well-arranged system as to the manner of 
acquiring Health, Strength and Muscle.” —BOSTON SATURDAY 
EVENING EXPRESS. 

“A complete dissertation on the treatment of free livers and sed¬ 
entary people in matters of air, clothing, food, stimulants, and the 
best modes of exercise for all ages.”—ST. LOUIS (MO.) HERALD. 

This Book will be sent prepaid by Mail on receipt of Fifty Cents. 

ADDRESS 

ED. JAMES, Publisher, 88 & 90 Centre St., N. T. 




PRACTICAL TRAINING 


RUNNING, WALKING, ROWING, 

WRESTLING, 

BOXING, JUMPING, 

AND 

ALL KINDS OF ATHLETIC FEATS; 

TOGETHER WITH 

TABLES OF PROPORTIONAL MEASUREMENTS 
FOR HEIGHT AND WEIGHT OF MEN 
IN AND OUT OF CONDITION; 

INCLUDING 

HINTS ON EXERCISE, DIET, CLOTHING, AND 
ADVICE TO TRAINERS; 


ALSO, 

BANTING’S SYSTEM OF REDUCING CORPULENCY, 

AND 

RECORD OF BEST ATHLETIC PERFORMANCES. 

BY 

ED. JAMES, 

AUTHOR OF “MANUAL OF SPORTING RULES,” “THE GAME COCK,” 
“TERRIER DOGS,” ETC., ETC. 


NEW YORK : 

PUBLISHED BY ED. JAMES, 88 & 90 CENTRE STREET, 

NEW YORK CLIPPER BUILDING. 


18 77. 

Price Filty Cents. 



MANUAL 

OF 

SPORTING RULES, 

COMPRISING THE 

LATEST AND P>EST AUTHENTICATED 

REVISED RULES 

GOVERNING 

TKAP SHOOTING, 

CANINE, RATTING, BAD¬ 
GER BAITING, COCK FIGHT¬ 
ING, THE PRIZE RING, WRESTLING, 
RUNNING, WALKING, JUMPING, KNURR 
AND SPELL, LA CROSSE, BOATING, BAGATELLE, 
ARCHERY, RIFLE AND PISTOL SHOOTING, 
SHUFFLE BOARD, SHINNY, QUOITS, SKIT¬ 
TLES, HAND BALL, RACKETS, FLY CAST¬ 
ING, SWIMMING, FOOT BALL, PIN 
POOL, FIFTEEN BALL POOL, 
SCOTTISH GAMES, TEN 
PINS, SKATING, CURL¬ 
ING, POLO, Etc. 

ILLUSTRATED WITH ORIGINAL ENGRAVINGS. 

BY ED. JAMES, 

AUTHOR OF “THE GAME COCK,” “TERRIER DOGS,” Etc., Etc. 


PUBLISHED BY 

ED. JAMES, 88 and 90 CENTRE STREET, N. Y., 
New York Clipper Building. 

Price OOc. 1877. 


WHAT THE PAPERS SAY 


ABOUT 



t Below will bo found a few from the many encomiums of the New 
York press on the excellence of these works: 

NEW YORK HERALD. 

"Treatise on Practical Training.” —At a season of the year when most needed 
Edwin James’ “Treatise on Practical Training ” has appeared. This neatly gotten- 
up book is full of valuable hints to athletes of whatever kind and character, hav¬ 
ing been compiled with rare judgment, Avhich long years of laborious work in 
the sporting world has given its author. The unpretentious volume, among other 
things, contains useful chapters on Training for Rowing, Boxing, Wrestling, and 
Pedestrianism, in addition to instructions for High and Broad Jumping, Fair 
Walking, Hammer-throwing, and in fact everything else useful to the professional 
or amateur athlete. 

NEW YORK CI.IPPER. 

.“Treatise on Practical Training.” —A new friend, and a most welcome one to 
all devoted to the pursuit of athletic exercises, has just made its appearance in the 
form' of a neatly gotten-up book bearing the above title. It has been compiled 
with care and'good j udgment by Ed. James. In addition to the useful chapters on 
Training for Pedestrianism, Rowing, Boxing, Wrestling, etc., the book contains 
instructions in regard to practice for High and Broad Jumping, Running, Fair 
Walking, Hammer-throwing, Hurdling, and Putting the Stone, and tells what to do 
in case of accident, tender feet and hands, boils, etc. “Banting’s System of 
Reducing Corpulency,” a Table of Proportional Measurements according to Height 
and Weight, and Records of Best Performances are also included. 

NEW YORK SUN. 

Mr. Ed. James has just published an edition of his “Practical Training for 
Running, Walking, Rowing, and Wrestling,” embracing “Banting's System of 
Reducing Corpulency.” It is an excellent work. 

NEW YORK SPIRIT OF THE TIMES. 

“Treatise on Practical Training.” —The well-known sporting author, Ed. James, 
has just published a “Treatise on Practical Training,” which gives an immense 
amount of condensed practical information, valuable to lovers of athletics and all 
kinds of sports, besides containing important Tables of Statistics, revised up to 
January, 1877. 

NEW YORK SUNDAY DISPATCH. 

“Treatise on Practical Training. ”—The celebrated sporting writer, Mr. Ed. 
James, has just issued a “Treatise on Practical Training,” which we can confidently 
recommend to every amateur and professional athlete in the land. It contains 
minute instructions as to the method of training for races, walking-matches, 
wrestling, pugilism, jumping, stone and hammer throwing, and sports of every kind, 
beside a fund of useful record matter concerning time, weight, conditions, etc. 

NEW YORK CLIPPER. 

"Manual op Sporting Rules.” —This i3 the title of a work issued by Mr. Ed. 
James. It contains rules regulating Trap-shooting, Cocking Contests, Boat-racing, 
Prize Ring, Wrestling (different styles). Running, Walking, Jumping, Bagatelle, 
Lacrosse, Quoits, Rifle and Pistol Shooting, Archery, Shuffleboard, Shinny, Rackets, 
Handball, Swimming, Pin-pool, Fifteen-ball Pool, Skittles, Foot-ball, Knurr-and- 
spell, Scottish Games, Ten Pins, Skating, Curling, Fly-casting, Polo, etc. Hereto¬ 
fore where rules were in existence they could be procured only through private 
sources, or separately; but we now have them in such shape as will meet all de¬ 
mands. In many instances there were no rules, but the publisher has, by con¬ 
sultation with the leading exponents of the several games, combined with his own 
intimate knowledge of sporting matters, been enabled to supply such wants in a 
satisfactory manner. The volume is illustrated with engravings representing 
various games. The work should command a steady sale. 

TURF, FIELD AND FARM. 

. “ Manual op Sporting Rules.” —A very complete work, comprising tue latest and 
best authenticated revised rules governing all the various games played and prac¬ 
ticed here and elsewhere, has been published by Ed. James, a gentleman long and 
favorably known to sportsmen. In it we find rules for Trap-shooting, Canine, 
Ratting, Badger-baiting, Cock-fighting, the Prize Ring, Wrestling, Running, Jump¬ 
ing, Walking, Knurr-and-spell, Lacrosse, Boating, Bagatelle, Archery, Rifle and 
Pistol Shooting, Billiards, Scottish Games, Skating, Curling, Polo, etc., and about 
everything else upon which it may be desirable to have information at hand to 
decido disputed questions. ___ 




T ZET! ZEU 


GAME COCK: 

BEING A 

PEACTICAL TEEATISE 

ON 

BREEDING, REARING, TRAINING, FEED 
ING, TRIMMING, MAINS, HEELING, 
SPURS, ETC., ETC., ETC. 
TOGETHER WITH AN 

EXPOSURE OF COCKERS’ TRICKS. 

THE 

ORIGIN AND CURE OF DISEASES, 

AND THE EEYISED 

COCKING RULES 

GOVERNING ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD 

BY 

ED. JAMES, 



+ PUBLISHED BY 

ED. JAMES, 88 AND 90 CENTRE STREET, N. Y ; 

NEW YORK CLIPPER BUILDING. 1 


1 8 7 3 



OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 

Below will be found a few selections from the many flattering 
notices of the book entitled “The Game Cock,” which will be suf¬ 
ficient to testify to the merits of the work. 

“New York Herald” AT arch 3 . 

The famous game cock which Mr. Carleton always introduces 
into his sketches, and sometimes with rare humor, reminds us that 
even the fighting chicken has his literature. Mr. Ed. James has 
just brought that valiant bird to our notice and we are grateful ac¬ 
cordingly. Mr. James is an old journalist, and he has published 
for the benefit of the sporting world a practical treatise on the 
breeding, training and feeding of game cocks. The work has been 
prepared with great care. In addition to a thorough exposure of 
the many tricks resorted to by handlers in the pit, the careful author 
shows his intimacy with the diseases to which the game cock is 
subject, and the accepted course of treatment for their cure. The 
book also contains the standard rules governing cocking through¬ 
out the United States, Canada and Great Britain, and much other 
information of value to those concerned in this enlightened sport 

11 New York Clipper ” Jati. 4 . 

“The Game Cock,” a neatly gotten up i 2 mo, treating of things 
appertaining to game fowls, has recently been published by Ed. 
James. In addition to a practical and easily understood treatise on 
breeding, rearing, training, feeding, trimming, mains, heeling, spurs, 
etc., “The Game Cock” contains an exposure of cockers’ tricks 
and the origin, symptoms and treatment of diseases'incident to 
fowl. The revised cocking rules for the various sections of the 
United States and Canadas add much to the general interest of the 
work, and it may be looked upon as authority on such matters; the 
book is bound in cloth, gilt cover, representing Fielding’s celebra¬ 
ted picture “ Victory,” and contains other illustrations. 

“Turf Field and Farm,”Jan. 3 . 

“The Game Cock,” by Ed. James. We have perused, with 
considerable interest, an ably writted work on the game fowl. 
The work is published by Ed. James, the well-known sports¬ 
man, and will be found to contain a good deal of information never 
before published in so compact a form. To cockers it will prove 
of great utility, as it gives full and minute directions how to feed, 
handle, trim and gaft fowls for actual contest. It also contains the 
rules of the pits in different states. While averse to the brutal (in 
our eyes) contests of game birds, we suppose there is no way to 
prove actual gameness in birds save by the steel tests. Hence this 
little work will be of great service, and will be perused with 
interest by those engaged in raising game birds. 

“N. Y. Sunday News,” Feb. 2 . 

“The Game Cock.” —We have now before us a neat little book 
with the above title, written by Ed. James, for the past twenty years 
connected with the sporting press. It teaches how to breed, rear, 
train, feed and pit game fowls, giving also all the pit rules. It is a 
volume containing a great mass of information, and all interested 
in game fowls should have a copy. 

CLOTH, GILT COVER, ILLUSTRATED, $1.25. 


TERRIER DOGS: 


SHOWING THE BEST METHODS OF 

BREEDING, BEHRING, FEEDING, DROPPING, PHYSICING, 

CURE OF DISEASES, ETC., 


WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE 


POINTS AND PROPERTIES OF THE BULL DOG, BULL TER¬ 
RIER, BLACK AND TAN, SCOTCH, SKYE AND TOY 
TERRIERS, ITALIAN GREYHOUND, PUG DOG 
AND KING CHARLES SPANIEL; 

ALSO, 

RATS AND RAT KILLING, 

WITH 

CANINE, RATTING AND BADGER BAITING RULES, 

AND TRAINING DOGS FOR THE PIT; 


TOGETHER WITH THE 

ART OF LEARNING DOGS TRICKS. 


BY 

ED. JAMES, 

AUTHOR OF “THE GAME COCK,” “MANUAL OF SPORTING RULES,” ETC. 


PUBLISHED BY 

ED. JAMES, 88 AND 90 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK. 

NEW YORK CLIPPER RUILDING. 


18 7 3. 


Price, $1 





DUMB-BELL 

AND 

INDIAN GLUB, 

EXPLAINING 

THE USES TO WHICH THEY MAY BE PUT, 

WITH NUMEROUS 

Illustrations of tiie Yarious Movements : 


ALSO 

A TREATISE ON THE MUSCULAR ADVANTAGES 


DERIVED FROM THESE EXERCISES. 


By 

Ed. JAMES, 

AUTHOR OF “ HEALTH, STRENGTH AND MUSCLE,.” “ PRACTICAL TRAINING,” 
“MANUAL OF SPORTING RULES,” “THE GAME COCK,” 

“terrier dogs,” etc., etc. 



NEW IOKK: 

PUBLISHED BY ED. JAMES, 88 and 90 CENTRE STREET, 

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER BUILDING. 


1878. 

X»rico Thirty Cents. 



THE 


COMPLETE HANDBOOK 


BOXING 

4 

AND 


WRESTLING; 

WITH 

FULL AND SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS 


ON ACQUIRING THESE 

USEFUL, INVIGORATING, AND HEALTH-GIVING ARTS. 

ILLUSTRATED WITH 

FIFTY ORIGINAL ENGRAVINGS AND PORTRAITS. 

By 

Ed. JAMES, 

AUTHOR OF “ THE DUMB-BELL AND INDIAN CLUB,” “ HEALTH, STRENGTH 
AND MUSCLE,” “PRACTICAL TRAINING,” “MANUAL OF SPORTING 
RULES,” “THE GAME COCK,” “TERRIER DOGS,” ETC., ETC. 



NEW YOEK: 

PUBLISHED BY ED. JAMES 88 and 90 CENTRE STREET, 

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER BUILDING. 


1878. 

I’rioo Fifty Cents. 





ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMAS. 


PRICE 13 CE^TS EACH. 

-» 


Males F 

African Box.... 6 0 

*Africanus Bluebeard. 6 

Baby Elephant .. 7 

Bad Whiskey. 2 

Black Chap from Whitechapel. 4 

Black Chemist. 3 

Black-Ey’d William. 4 

Big Mistake. 4 

Bogus Indian . 5 

Bogus Talking Machine. 4 

Bruised and Cured. 2 

Coalheaver’s Revenge. 6 

Cremation. 8 

Daguerreotypes. 3 

Damon and Pythias. 5 

Darkey's Stratagem. 3 

De Black Magician... 4 

Deeds of Darkness. 6 

Draft. 6 

Dutchman’s Ghost. 4 

Dutch Justice. 31 

Editor’s Troubles. 6 

Eh? What is It?. 4 

Elopement. 4 

Excise Trials. 10 

Fellow that Looks Like Me. 2 

Fisherman’s Luck.! 2 

First Night. 4 

Gambrinus, King of Lager Beer... 8 

German Emigrant. 2 

Getting Square on the Call Boy.... 3 

Ghost . 2 

Ghost in a Pawn Shop. 4 

Glycerine Oil. 3 

Going for the Cup. 4 

Good Night’s Rest. 3 

Gripsack . 3 

Happy Couple. 2 

Hard Times. 5 

Hemmed In.■. 3 

Highjack, the Heeler. 6 

Hippotheatrou. 9 

In and Out. 2 

Jealous Husband. 2 

Julius, the Snoozer. 7 

Katrina’s Little Game. 1 

Last of the Mohicans..... 3 

Laughing Gas. 6 

Live Injun. 4 

Lost Will. 4 

Lucky Job. 3 

Lunatic. 3 

Making a Hit. 4 

Malicious Trespass. 3 

Midnight Intruder. 6 

Mutton Trial . 4 

Musical Servant. 3 

Night in a Strange Hotel. 2 

One Hundredth Night of Hamlet.. 7 

One Night in a Barroom. 7 

One, Two, Three... 7 

Pete and the Peddler. 2 

Policy Players.. 7 

Pompey’s Patients. 6 

Porter's Troubles. 6 


. Males F 

Polar Bear. 4 1 

2 Recruiting Office. 5 0 

1 i Remittance from Home. 6 0 

Rehearsal... 4 2 

Rigging a Purchase. 3 0 

Rival Artists. 3 0 

Rival Tenants.*. 4 0 

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Sausage Makers. 5 1 

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Serenade. 7 0 

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Academy of Stars. 5 1 

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0 

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Males F 


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Troublesome Servant. 2 0 

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